Hi Dimitar,
Yes, we received the message around midday on Friday. I didn't have time to email it
out to Advocacy Advisors at that time as I had to prepare our press release responding to
BUS's statements and then I had to rush to meet a friend that was visiting from
Finland for the weekend.
On Friday WMSE simultaneously published a press release and blog post (now also available
in English):
http://wikimediasverige.wordpress.com/2014/06/13/angaende-stamningsansokan-…
The board has also been preparing a debate article during the weekend.
In short, the situation is the following: It is legal to take photos, it is also for sure
legal to publish them in for example books and sell the books. The unclarity is if it is
also okay to publish them online. BUS states that it isn't and they want us (and
others) to pay for the online publication, while our (and the legal expertise that we have
contracted to look into this) believe that it is perfectly fine to also publish online.
Hence, our conclusion is that BUS is charging municipalities and other actors to pay for
something they shouldn't have to pay for and, what is worse, preventing them to share
the photos that they have for free online. Their legal interpretation hasn't been
questioned in court before. We believe that this is because the municipalities and other
actors are to unsure and don't want to risk pissing of BUS, a rather powerful
organization in Sweden, and the artists. This is something that has been mentioned in
private conversations. Now we have the chance to get this clarified.
I don't want to speculate about our chances of winning, but we are certainly hopeful!
Worst case scenario, we will have our main lobbying priority clarified within the year!
Regards,
John
- - - -
John Andersson
Wikimedia Sverige
Project Manager
Phone: +46(0)73-3965189
Email: john.andersson(a)wikimedia.se
Skype: johnandersson86
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Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2014 10:56:32 +0200
Subject: WMSE being sued over FoP
From: dimitar.parvanov.dimitrov(a)gmail.com
To: john.andersson(a)wikimedia.se
CC: jan.engelmann(a)wikimedia.de; barbara.fischer(a)wikimedia.de
Hi John,
I came across this today:
Wikimedia Sverige is being sued by Bildkonst Upphovsrätt i Sverige
(BUS), an organization working with copyright issues and representing
artists. WM SE has presented a portal (
http://offentligkonst.se/) that displays
cc-licenced pictures from Wikimedia Commons. As we're working with FoP (studies and
advocacy) within the FKAGEU, is there anything else we should know about this case? How
are the chances of them succeeding? Is there something about Swedish FoP legislation that
is unclear?
Also, do you mind if I share this on Advocacy Advisors?
Let us know if we can be of any help!
Cheers,
Dimi