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Frequently asked questions
Do I have permission to use the data?
ISIC images are shared for research and education use, but they are not automatically free of any use.
Permission depends on the license assigned to each individual image in the ISIC Archive. Every image is labeled with one of these licenses:
• CC0 (Public Domain Dedication): You may use the image for any purpose without permission or attribution.
• CC-BY (Attribution): You may use the image for any purpose (including commercial), as long as you provide proper attribution.
• CC-BY-NC (Attribution–NonCommercial): You may use the image only for non-commercial purposes, and you must provide attribution.
Always review the license shown on the image metadata page and follow its requirements.
How can I gain access to private images and diagnostic labels from a private test set?
Under no circumstance can we provide special access to private images or hidden metadata.
How do I appropriately cite individual images, datasets, or the ISIC Archive as a whole?
The right citation depends on what you used:
• Individual image: Cite the image’s ISIC ID and include any required attribution listed with the image (especially for CC-BY and CC-BY-NC).
• Datasets/Collections: Cite the dataset/collection page (name + DOI when available) and all distinct image attributions associated with the collection.
Can I be granted special permissions for uses not covered by the Creative Commons license?
Possibly, but ISIC cannot grant permission beyond the Creative Commons license on an image unless the rights holder authorizes it. Licenses are set per image by the uploader/data owner.
If you need a use that isn't allowed by the image's license (for example, commercial use of a CC-BY-NC image, or other restricted redistribution), you must contact the image uploader/data owner to request additional permission or a separate license agreement. If you are not sure who to contact, the ISIC team may be able to help point you to the appropriate owner.
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