[WikiEN-l] [<>: A photo on Wikipedia]

Mon Mar 22 17:12:25 UTC 2004

My first impression was that this required an RTFM response, but when I 
look at the picture I realize that it's a fair use picture.  The 
question isn't silly anymore.  Although I'm on the end of the spectrum 
that supports using fair use material, I believe that the person who 
contributes fair use material still has a responsibility to cite his 
sources.  That in turn depends on knowing what it means to cite sources. 
 The contributor probably felt that mentioning Joey de Vera was enough, 
but I think he fell short.  Citing a source means adding enough 
information to allow the downstream user with adequate resources to 
verify the facts and to exercise his own due dilligence.  Our Polish 
user evidently wants to do this.  The picture in question was taken in 
1986 in the Philippines.  A person who is skilled at searching the web 
may be able to track this down, but even for him that could be hours of 
work  It is not the responsibility of the community as a whole to do one 
person's homework.  

The contributor in this case, Seav,  remains active on Philippine 
related topics; perhaps the problem should be put in his lap

Ec

Jimmy Wales wrote:

>How should I respond to such inquiries?
>
>I think we should have (and probably already do?) a page written in
>everyday language that says
>
>"So, you want to use some of our content... here is what you need to
>do."
>
>--Jimbo
>
>----- Forwarded message from <> -----
>
>Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 14:08:43 +0100
>To: jwales at bomis.com
>Subject: A photo on Wikipedia
>
>Dear Sirs,
>
>there is a photo shown on a Wikipedia website, which my friends
>would like to use in their publication:
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:EDSA_Revolution_pic1.jpg
>
>The photo is authored by a  Joey de Vera.
>
>Unfortunately basing on the information given on the website I am
>not able to trace Mr de Vera on the Internet.
>
>You are kindly requested to tell me whom should we contact
>to get a necessary permission to use the photo in our publication?
>
>At the moment I am writing unofficially on behalf of a small
>editors in Krakow, Poland. I am doing so only to get preliminary
>information on the subject. However, after having received it further
>negotiation would be taken over by competent officials from the
>edition.
>
>Hoping to hear from you soon
>