Salve,
Am Sonntag, 22. Februar 2004 23:41 schrieb Richard Stallman:
The questions you are asking are legal technicalities. You need to ask a lawyer--I am not capable of giving advise about such points.
So I can state that there hasn`t been a discussion about a special GNU licence for pictures yet and nobody dissagreed that there is probably a need for one. Richard is right that this for asking a lawyer, but I´m interested in starting points.
As long as the world is software patents free, we have the freedom to create similar softwaretools - also the text for the wikipedia could be written by our-self. But historical pictures like this:
Vietnam Execution (1968) Eddie Adams http://www.edelmangallery.com/killer1.htm
we can`t make our-self. When the photographer is still alive and hasn`t sold his pictures right, that do we have the chance to ask him to support the wikipedia. Jimbo has ask me to go on with my idea of a tutorial ""HowTo ask effective for the use of pictures with the condition of the GNU-FDL" and start to write it. But even when we have equal skills to Casanova, propose something smartfull what will be a pleasure for the contributur and the Wikipedia - Casanova had the advantage to choose willing women. Most of right holders of pictures with the aim of make as much as possible money aren`t like women with unromatic husbands.
In this case we need to make compromises, this could be one like: A - getting one picture for using with GNU FDL B - getting the right to use this picture only on official Wikipedia server/ mirrors, CD-Roms & official Wikipedia books (a special new licence) C - getting the right to use this picture with a redused quality and size D - creating a non public pay per view area inside the wikipedia E - using this picture with "fair use" F - don`t use this picture inside the wikipedia and use an external link G - finding a very rich donator who buy the whole right of one picture and free it H - finding a rich donator to free a picture for B only
Some still open questions: -How can we ensure by a licence, that the information of the picture will sticked together for all future? -How can we make it more believable that this picture is not manipulated? -How can be one digital signature used for the picture and the information? -Aren`t there reasons for creating a GNU-Free_Picture/Grafic_Licence? -Has there already been discussions about his? -Where can I found archievs of them? -Where is the best place to discuss a new picture/media licence? -Should this licence be a GNU or a Wikipedia licence?
-Who is interested in joining such discussion?
The GFDL is IMHO only about text and not about pictures, the GFDL do not mention picture or photo. Beside the question if a GNU Free Picture Lisence would be better - does the GFDL protect that this pictures are maybe allowed to use without GFDL, too? I´m not keen in having just another licence, but especialy the documentation of picture manipulation and sticking the picture information to the picture is need enough to think about a GNU Free Picture Licence, or more better about a Free Media Licence (picture, maps, sheet music, audio, video...)
Gruss rob
PS: I would use the wappon "blaming the right owner" to do not support wikipedia very carfully and very singular - only with good reasons and maybe only for govermental organisation like ESA: "We are very disapointed to do not be able to serve you pictures to this article, but the ESA deny us the support and the right to use pictures which was made by 100% tax paid science. We do not have any appreciative for this mindset, because the NASA is serving free pictures and make it possible to complete more than 500 articles with the help of NASA pictures. Please sign this petition adressed to ESA to reconsider their mindset". But maybe the ESA will be friendly when we do ask them or institutes which have made the science research. ;) But even in this case will be a more diplomatic strategie more successfull. When we increase the number of "friends of the wikipedia" and some wikipedianer has spoken with a minister for science and education, and this minister is liking the wikipedia, he can please the minister to request ESA to support wikipedia. The price for such an hight level intercessor could be that we care about one wish of the minister like creating articles of one field e.g. genetic engineering and print readers will a collection of this articles for schools. When we have fulfilled one of his wish, we can raise our next one. And a good contact to our minister would help to lobby against more restrictive patent and copyright laws.
Beside of writing good articles, try to win new friends for the wikipedia!