[Foundation-l] BitTorrent Downloads of enwiki Images

[Florence Devouard]

Jeffrey V. Merkey wrote:
 > Rory Stolzenberg wrote:
 >
 >> On 3/9/07, Jeff V. Merkey 
<jmerkey-6KXTs3wnGaZTqo3+vT/QGPegYHeGw8Jk at public.gmane.org> wrote:
 >>
 >>
 >>> I have compiled the entire library of Wikipedia's images and have a
 >>> bittorrent server ready to export this library on the internet.  I am
 >>> awaiting
 >>> word back from the Foundation for approval to enable the torrents.
 >>>
 >>> I have developed an automated C based server system which mirrors all
 >>> Wikipedia images and compiles them into .bz2 archives as a library 
based
 >>> on XML revision and dump.   When I get final approval, I will export
 >>> these torrents to allow the images to be available from the internet.
 >>> I will be in Arizona meeting with Dine (Navajo) folks next week on 
their
 >>> projects, but will have email access.
 >>>
 >>> The torrents will be available at
 >>>
 >>> http://www.wikigadugi.org:2780
 >>>
 >>> At some point.  I will let folks know when and if the Foundation has
 >>> approved this.
 >>>
 >>> :-)
 >>>
 >>> Jeff
 >>>
 >>>
 >>
 >> The Foundation does not own the copyright to (almost) all of those 
pictures.
 >> Why do you need approval from them? As long as they're distributed 
according
 >> to the terms of their licenses (assuming you aren't using 
copyrighted images
 >> that Wikipedia uses under a claim of fair use), you don't need any
 >> permission.
 >>
 >>
 > When I start distributing them, there WILL be DMCA takedown notices and
 > legal threats from various folks out on the internet
 > I am certain, along with possible litigation.
 >
 > That's fine. If someone wants to take me to Court for distributing
 > Wikipedia images, I have both the legal background,
 > and the resources to defend such actions.
 >
 > I need the Foundations permission because they are the source of the
 > images on the internet. In the event there is a DMCA takedown
 > notice, I will notify the Wikipedia contributor on their talk page who
 > uploaded the image, wait for the response, then give the complaining
 > party the time period to file suit if they really feel that strongly
 > about it, or work out some reasonable compromise (which would be best)
 > between the parties.
 >
 > Should someone want to file suit or really complain, then the Foundation
 > can make the call on whether or not the image should also
 > come off Wikipedia without exposing the Foundation to the same level of
 > legal risks someone who is actively distributing the images
 > would be. People who own copyrights may not have an issue with Fair use
 > images on Wikipedia as a encyclopedia, but they may have a more serious
 > view when someone is distributing full downloads and archives of images
 > so people REALLY CAN host the encyclopedia. This will test that premise
 > and I would expect to see more people coming forward on image use in
 > general so the Foundation can more effectively identify images which
 > may in fact be sources of conflict.
 >
 > In essence, the Foundation will have a "buffer" of sorts one level away
 > from the forefront of these legal issues and at the same time be able
 > to filter a lot of the conflict over image distribution. The other point
 > is, technically under the law, WMF may be considered the source
 > of the images in some cases, and in that case, they would be the
 > responder to DMCA takedown notices. I think this would help
 > clean up a lot of the images also (people would think twice about
 > uploading fair use images if they knew they were being repacked
 > and distributed and that they may receive DMCA notices about the images).
 >
 > At any rate, it would be impolite and a breach of loyalty to the
 > foundation and community to go ahead with such a plan without permission
 > and without giving the Foundation the opportunity to comment on the
 > proposal and offer suggestions.
 >
 > Jeff

I still have not understood what you were asking the authorization for.
Images are under a free licence, so do not need our authorization to be
distributed.

Can you provide the exact text of what you are asking authorization of ?

ant