David Blomstrom wrote:
> Wikipedia uses a series of location maps on articles about the
> states, like
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyoming - the the map on
> the right side of the page, just below the state flag and seal.
>
> It sounds like I'm allowed to use these images on my website as
> long as I include the proper credit. The only problem is the
> credits are awfully long for images this small; I don't want to
> insert a big credit on each page.
> So I wanted to ask if these maps belong to Wikipedia in the first
> place...or are they public domain?
>
> Incidentally, I will be linking my pags to Wikipedia; in fact, I
> already have.
> Thank you.
Yes, you must include the proper credits, at least for those who
modified the pictures from the public domain original. According to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:U.S._county_map, those
images were created by Eric Pierce
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Wapcaplet) and James D.
Forrester (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jdforrester). I
believe that in this case, crediting the two authors and linking to
the Wikipedia article should be sufficient. It would also be
polite, though not legally necessary, to credit the creator of the
original public domain image, The General Libraries of The
University of Texas at Austin (
http://www.lib.utexas.edu). However,
you should probably read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights#Users.27_rig
hts_and_obligations
for more details.
Josh Gerdes
[[en:User:JoshG]]
OK, thanks. I have one more question. I have no problem offering the
proper credit; I just don't want to post a bunch of extra
text by every
single image. I'd rather have a clean design, like on the Wikipedia
pages (which don't mention the University of Texas. :)
Therefore, would I be allowed to simply add the word "Credits," linked
to a page that offers all the credit information, including
the names of
the individuals you cited in your e-mail, the University of
Texas, etc.?
Thank you.