[Foundation-l] [Slashdot] Why the Photos On Wikipedia Are So Bad

[Sage Ross]

On Mon, Jul 20, 2009 at 7:05 AM, Peter Gervai<grinapo at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Ultimately the issue for professional photographers who might want to
>> donate their work is copyright. 'To me the problem is the Wikipedia
>> rule of public use,' says Jerry Avenaim, a celebrity photographer. 'If
>> they truly wanted to elevate the image on the site, they should allow
>> photographers to maintain the copyright.'"
>
> Apart from the clueless phrasing (which may or may not be due to the
> news reporter instead of Mr. Avenaim) what he doesn't seem to
> understand is that the pictures are what they are BECAUSE HE does not
> want to release EVEN ONE of his photographs to make it better.
>
> Basically he says "I do not like the look of it but I do not offer my
> work but you have to change your rules instead". And I'd basically say
> "it is as bad as it is because YOU have the means but not the will to
> enrichen public content", and I may have added that "calling those
> people names who offer their resources, time and money to make
> Wikipedia better while you don't is hypocrisy".
>

Hold up!  This is User:Jerry Avenaim, and he has contributed some of
his low-resolution photographs, and even a higher-resolution one of
Mark Marmon that is a Featured Picture on en-wiki.

-Sage