Yann you're right about some acceptation of copyrighted works... To answer to Cary Bass, there're some examples in New York streets categories... I don't think that the architect of Apple store or some recents buildings are already dead... so it's a form of acceptation (reagarding fench law)
you're right also about the delay ... 70 years after the 1st january following the dead of the author... (sourcehttp://www.avocats-publishing.com/La-duree-de-la-protection-des) I Made a confusion with the american law before 1998 ...
So I'm agree with you, the deletion seems to be a little too reprehensive regarding some accepation and the law. I also note that there were very few person involve in this deletion request.
Sincerely Gdgourou