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The term '''"accepted sources"''' as used in the ''Lexicanum'' describes the body of source material that an [[Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum:Editors|Editor]] is permitted to use when creating or editing articles in the ''Lexicanum'' wiki. These sources are sometimes also referred to as ''official'', ''legitimate'' or ''canon'' sources but the term that should be used with reference to any work within the Lexicanum is nevertheless ''accepted sources'' (see also further down). Only ''accepted sources'' can be used in the compulsory [[Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum:Citation|citation process]] as a legitimate source.
Do also note that it is explicitly forbidden to simply copy and paste sources from existing ''Lexicanum'' articles - every editor has to personally check and verify that sources cited in other articles are correct and that the content in question corresponds 100 % to what is said in the original source. Also obviously ''Lexicanum'' articles can never be considered an ''accepted source'' themselves.
We are aware that even accepted sources might contradict each other, but within the ''Lexicanum'' there is no "hierarchy of sources" - i.e. no accepted source is considered more valid than another official source. More recent sources do however take precedence over older sources. This does however '''not''' mean that the old information is considered "wrong" and non-acceptable and has to be deleted altogether - this is definitely not the case! It is an explicit goal of the ''Lexicanum'' to also reflect potentially outdated information - with appropriate disclaimers and explanations (see [[Warhammer_40k_-_Lexicanum:Trivia#Special_case:_Conflicting_sources_.28aka_.22Canon_conflicts.22.29|here]]). For the general problem of the concept of "canon" see further on where this is discussed.
# [[:Category:Background Books|Background Books]]
# [[:Category:Comics and Graphic Novels|GW licensed Comics and Graphic Novels]]
# [[:Category:Computer Games|Games Workshop licensed computer games based in the Warhammer 40,000 universe]](for example via screenshots)
# Collectable Card games licensed by [[Games Workshop]]
# Games and background material published by [[Black Industries]] and [[Fantasy Flight Games]] (under license)
==Examples of unacceptable sources==
The following list is non-exhaustive:
*leaked, pirated, stolen or otherwise illegally obtained copies of official publications (including legally obtained publications before the official release date as publishing these early constitutes a violation of [[Wikipedia:Non-disclosure agreement|non-disclosure agreements]])
*other ''Lexicanum'' articles (yes, you read that right, only first-hand material can be used as an accepted source)
*other wikis
==Examples of grey areas requiring evaluation on a case by case basis or specific disclaimers==
The following list is non-exhaustive:
*private homepages, blogs, forum posts , [[Wikipedia:Patreon|Patreons]] etc. by authors, artists or other individuals working for [[Games Workshop]], its subsidiaries or license holders
Such cases have to be submitted and discussed [[Warhammer_40k_-_Lexicanum_talk:Accepted_sources#Sources%20requiring%20a%20discussion/%20ruling|here]].
==What to do in case of conflicting Accepted sources==
Due to the reasons given above and below this paragraph it is clear why sometimes one ''Accepted source'' might partially or completely contradict another. Some people call this "Canon conflict", but as the term "Canon" itself is problematic (see below) in the ''Lexicanum'' such occurences occurrences should rather be called '''Conflicting sources'''.
When ''Accepted sources'' contradict each other this should be discussed in the [[Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum:Trivia|Trivia]] section of the corresponding article as described in the ''Trivia'' ''Help'' article.
''Wikipedia'' defines the concept of "Canon" in fiction as follows: ''"In fiction, canon is the material accepted as officially part of the story in the fictional universe of that story. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction. [...] Other times, the word can mean 'to be acknowledged by the creator(s)'."'' For more information on this topic, see [[Wikipedia:Canon (fiction)|"Canon" as a concept in fiction]].
The passi passages ''"officially part of the story"'' and ''"acknowledged by the creator(s)"'' in a nutshell already highlights why using the term ''"Canon"'' in conjunction with [[Games Workshop]] is somewhat difficult. Some reasons for this are:
*the immense wealth of available publications stretching back to the 1980s across several editions of the [[Warhammer 40,000]] (and related) games
*[[Games Workshop]] almost never officially disowning any of the previously published material
