2005/11/26, Anthony DiPierro <wikilegal(a)inbox.org>rg>:
Is this really how it works in the German Wikipedia
(and other
non-English Wikipedias)?
Yes, the German Wikipedia does not allow fair use for pictures period.
Several other (including my own nl:) do the same. And what is more, it
is also the policy on Commons.
I assume you must allow some form of fair
dealing, as it's difficult to think of a photo of the real world that
doesn't contain *some* copyrighted materials incidently.
As far as I can see, the 'no fair use' policy mostly restricts itself
to the pictures themselves, and to book covers, works of art etc. that
are the main subject of the image. I have not seen protests against
objects being shown (except for the above), or against buildings,
except that on the Dutch Wikipedia pictures of the Atomium are not
allowed because someone found a news message where someone was
actually charged a few hundred Euro for having a picture of the
Atomium on his private but public website.
Does the
German Wikipedia have many pictures of celebrities and big events?
It depends on what you call 'many'. But
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:People has quite a large
number of pictures already.
Do you find that not allowing non-free images detracts
significantly from
the encyclopedia (ignoring, if you can, the benefits of the images
being free)?
No, I don't see how it detracts. On the English Wikipedia there are
also plenty of articles without pictures, does that distract you?
--
Andre Engels, andreengels(a)gmail.com
ICQ: 6260644 -- Skype: a_engels