[Foundation-l] Dead Sea Scrolls

[Ryan Kaldari]

On 10/4/11 8:16 AM, Anthony wrote:
> If WMF wants to copy *the text* of the scrolls, I don't think anyone
> is going to have a problem with that.  The copyright notice claims
> copyright "in the digital images of the manuscripts", not in the text.

Well, there doesn't appear to be any basis for a copyright claim on the 
images of the scrolls themselves, as neither Israeli law nor American 
law recognizes "sweat of the brow". The only valid claim would be on 
reconstructions of the text. Of course if we have no immediate need for 
the images and want maintain a good relationship with the Israeli 
museum, it may not be a good idea to mass upload them to Commons.

Ryan Kaldari