Supporters of broad use of PD-art outside of the U.S. have seized on a
statement by Erik Möller that, "To put it plainly, WMF's position has
always been that faithful reproductions of two-dimensional public domain
works of art are public domain, and that claims to the contrary
represent an assault on the very concept of a public domain." and called
it the "position of the WMF"
(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:When_to_use_the_PD-Art_tag#The_position_of_the_WMF)
and "The official position taken by the Wikimedia Foundation"
(http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Template:PD-art).

In my opinion, this is mistaken on many levels.  Regardless of his
intentions, Erik Möller does not have the authority to speak for the
WMF.  If the board does /intend/ to make this statement, a binding
resolution would be a much better means.

This choice of interpretation involves deliberately ignoring the current
legal climate in certain countries outside the U.S., and I believe that
is a significant departure at Commons.

I am asking the board to step in and provide clarity on this issue in
particular, and the ways they will and will not communicate their views
on important issues in general.