A credit line can be required or appropriate, but it should not be treated as a complete explanation of the right to use a creative asset. Review both questions.
WIPO explains that business use of copyright material needs an appropriate rights basis. WIPO — Why Copyright Matters to SMEs.
Identify the actual asset
For a character story card, keep the source material and intended use clear. A caption such as image credit does not by itself establish which permissions were obtained.
Preserve the applicable terms
Check whether the actual arrangement includes attribution, editing or distribution conditions. Follow current applicable review rather than assuming one familiar credit format resolves everything. The useful outcome is a documented use with the relevant credit requirements, not an attractive acknowledgement substituted for missing permission.
Source reviewed 25 October 2026. Interpretation and original diagrams: PLUSHIP / Qunhe. Examples are illustrative.
Related reading
An Asset-Repository Handover Should Clarify Continuing Use Rights
Permission to Use Artwork Should Be Reviewed for the Proposed AI Processing
A Training-Asset Permission Record Should Identify the Actual Dataset Version