Haukur Þorgeirsson wrote:
I would be fine with such a policy. And I argue that
if we can tolerate a few fair-use images where they
are the only ones available we can also tolerate a
few used-with-permission images where those are the
only ones we can obtain.
If they truly are the only ones we can obtain, then they're almost
certainly fair use for us anyway. The permission should be noted, but
isn't critical. But there's a huge difference between an image being the
only one of its kind we can get under any circumstances, and being the
only image some editor is able to get a hold of.
In the past, even with Wikipedia-only permissions discouraged, far too
many users have thought it sufficient just to ask for permission without
asking for permission under a free license. Allowing this would
encourage people to be even more lazy about getting free images.
--Michael Snow