On Jan 10, 2008 7:37 PM, Andrew Gray shimgray@gmail.com wrote:
There is an awful lot of material we use and justify by saying "well, we couldn't use anything else" - we should be very wary of believing this to be a justification that we *need* it.
I agree with this sentiment entirely. Just because an image is irreplacable does not mean it has intrinsic value. For instance, the cover image of a book or CD or DVD is hardly "important". That is, unless there is something special and unique about that particular cover that makes it worthy of pointing out especially.
On en.wikibooks, the biggest hurdle we have is in the software guidebooks for proprietart software packages. For instance, it's difficult to teach Adobe Photoshop without including some screenshots of the interface. (we have a book on GIMP too, before anybody complains). Fair use should be invoked when the image is essential to the book or article. If it is not essential, then it is mere decoration, and fair use seems like a bit of a gamble to employ on decorations.
--Andrew Whitworth