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+# MSC4459: Image pack references
+[MSC2545](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/2545)
+introduced image packs, which can be used as stickers and custom emojis.
+However, it did not specify an easy way to share packs other than manually
+linking to the room that contains the pack. Other networks like Telegram,
+WhatsApp and Signal allow sharing packs by simply sending a sticker or custom
+emoji, which allows the recipient to click the image to view the pack.
+
+## Proposal
+This proposal introduces an image pack sharing mechanism similar to other
+networks by adding metadata about the origin of the image to sticker events.
+
+A `m.image_source_packs` field is added to `m.sticker` events. The field
+contains a map from `mxc://` URI to an image pack reference. The reference
+object contains:
+
+* `room_id` with the ID of the room where the image pack is located.
+* `via` (optional) with an array of server names that can be used to join the room.
+* `state_key` with the state key of the image pack state event.
+* `shortcode` with the short code of the particular image that was used
+  (the shortcode is the key in the `images` map inside the state event).
+
+The field can be used in any event that contains images from an image pack. It
+is a map to allow use in contexts where one event contains multiple images.
+The primary use cases are:
+
+* `m.sticker` events
+* `m.reaction` events using [MSC4027](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-spec-proposals/pull/4027) or similar proposals
+* `m.room.message` events containing custom emojis in `formatted_body`
+
+To avoid leaking information about private packs, clients SHOULD only reference
+packs that are in a public or knockable room.
+
+### Examples
+
+<details>
+<summary>Sticker</summary>
+
+```json
+{
+  "type": "m.sticker",
+  "content": {
+    "body": "Blobcat threatens you with cactus",
+    "url": "mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag"
+    "info": {
+      "mimetype": "image/png",
+      "size": 17198,
+      "w": 64,
+      "h": 64
+    },
+    "m.mentions": {},
+    "m.image_source_packs": {
+      "mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag": {
+        "room_id": "!mxZlZeHjtbkmpqofEQ:tastytea.de",
+        "via": ["fairydust.space", "matrix.org", "maunium.net"],
+        "state_key": "Unhappy Blobcats",
+        "shortcode": "blobcat_cactus"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+</details>
+
+<details>
+<summary>Reaction using MSC4027</summary>
+
+```json
+{
+  "type": "m.reaction",
+  "content": {
+    "m.relates_to": {
+      "rel_type": "m.annotation",
+      "event_id": "$0KG--Cf1Xi3qpVgudjBrLRdr6nYCP4rqZXo867esl5I",
+      "key": "mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag"
+    },
+    "com.beeper.reaction.shortcode": ":blobcat_cactus:",
+    "m.image_source_packs": {
+      "mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag": {
+        "room_id": "!mxZlZeHjtbkmpqofEQ:tastytea.de",
+        "via": ["fairydust.space", "matrix.org", "maunium.net"],
+        "state_key": "Unhappy Blobcats",
+        "shortcode": "blobcat_cactus"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+</details>
+
+<details>
+<summary>Text message with custom emojis</summary>
+
+```json
+{
+  "type": "m.room.message",
+  "content": {
+    "msgtype": "m.text"
+    "body": "meow :blobcat_cactus: :blobcat_thinking:",
+    "format": "org.matrix.custom.html",
+    "formatted_body": "meow <img src=\"mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag\" alt=\":blobcat_cactus:\" title=\"Blobcat threatens you with cactus\" data-mx-emoticon=\"\" height=\"32\"> <img src=\"mxc://tastytea.de/uBWzDiNIwAEKvZuisqCdMNIH\" alt=\":blobcat_thinking:\" title=\"Thinking Blobcat\" data-mx-emoticon=\"\" height=\"32\">",
+    "m.mentions": {},
+    "m.image_source_packs": {
+      "mxc://tastytea.de/glmVmTfoMPqAYETjWCGreuag": {
+        "room_id": "!mxZlZeHjtbkmpqofEQ:tastytea.de",
+        "via": ["fairydust.space", "matrix.org", "maunium.net"],
+        "state_key": "Unhappy Blobcats",
+        "shortcode": "blobcat_cactus"
+      },
+      "mxc://tastytea.de/uBWzDiNIwAEKvZuisqCdMNIH": {
+        "room_id": "!mxZlZeHjtbkmpqofEQ:tastytea.de",
+        "via": ["fairydust.space", "matrix.org", "maunium.net"],
+        "state_key": "Misc Blobcats",
+        "shortcode": "blobcat_thinking"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+</details>
+
+
+## Potential issues
+If an image is present in multiple packs, the client will have to pick one to
+use as the source. This is likely not an issue, as sticker and emoji pickers are
+usually grouped by pack. Clients can also always omit the source if they can't
+pick one.
+
+## Alternatives
+The source could be expressed as some kind of a `matrix:` URI instead of an
+object, e.g. `matrix:roomid/mxZlZeHjtbkmpqofEQ:tastytea.de?via=fairydust.space&via=matrix.org&via=maunium.net&action=show_image_pack&image_pack_key=Unhappy%20Blobcats&image_shortcode=blobcat_cactus`.
+This would allow sharing links outside of Matrix, but it's much less readable
+than a JSON object. A future MSC can still define a URI format for external
+linking if needed.
+
+Packs could have a new flag to indicate whether they want to be referenced
+instead of only relying on room join rules.
+
+## Security considerations
+Some information about image packs and rooms may be leaked if clients aren't
+careful with what they include references to.
+
+## Unstable prefix
+`com.beeper.msc4459.image_source_packs` can be used instead of `m.image_source_packs`
+
+## Dependencies
+This MSC builds on MSC2545, which is in final comment period as of writing and
+will presumably be accepted.
+
+This MSC can also be used together with MSC4027, but there is no hard dependency.