<div dir="ltr">On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 4:51 PM, Matthew Flaschen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:matthew.flaschen@gatech.edu">matthew.flaschen@gatech.edu</a>></span> wrote:<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Supporters of broad use of PD-art outside of the U.S. have seized on a<br>
statement by Erik Möller that, "To put it plainly, WMF's position has<br>
always been that faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain<br>
works of art are public domain, and that claims to the contrary<br>
represent an assault on the very concept of a public domain." and called<br>
it the "position of the WMF"<br>
(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:When_to_use_the_PD-Art_tag#The_position_of_the_WMF" target="_blank">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:When_to_use_the_PD-Art_tag#The_position_of_the_WMF</a>)<br>
and "The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation"<br>
(<a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-art" target="_blank">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-art</a>).<br>
<br>
In my opinion, this is mistaken on many levels. Regardless of his<br>
intentions, Erik Möller does not have the authority to speak for the<br>
WMF. If the board does /intend/ to make this statement, a binding<br>
resolution would be a much better means.<br>
<br>
This choice of interpretation involves deliberately ignoring the current<br>
legal climate in certain countries outside the U.S., and I believe that<br>
is a significant departure at Commons.<br>
<br>
I am asking the board to step in and provide clarity on this issue in<br>
particular, and the ways they will and will not communicate their views<br>
on important issues in general.<br>
</blockquote><div><br>Adding <span class="HcCDpe"><span class="JDpiNd"></span>commons-l as a CC as this clearly involves the commons community, and should have included that CC to start.</span> Lets all try to include commons-l on future replies.<br>
<br>Erik is deputy director, and he, Sue, Mike Godwin or the board itself I believe is entitled to make such a statement. Are you simply asking for the board to endorse or not endorse it?<br></div></div><br>- Joe<br>
</div>