[WikiEN-l] Fair use redux; the second coming of hell; Are we a free content or aren't we?

[Ray Saintonge]

Fred Bauder wrote:

>From: WikipediaEditor Durin [mailto:wikidurin at gmail.com]
>  
>
>>If the people are on this mailing list are unable to make decisions on
>>this, who should I take this matter to? I'm of the understanding that Jimbo
>>wanted this list to be the main source of business work, so to speak.
>>Yet, the support I've seen regarding fair use issues brought up in an
>>earlier thread is weak at best. Is there another place I should be taking this?
>>    
>>
>Yes, there probably is. Our public mailing lists are becoming progressively less useful. Only a few participate and of those few only a small fraction have actual gravitas in terms of the working of Wikipedia. Since you're talking about images, perhaps the Commons community is where this issue should be fully considered and something done.
>
>To address the issue, I fear we are accepting fair use for trivial purposes. Great public issues are one thing, a fair use image of an entertainer is quite another. A fair use image should be vital for understanding of a significant issue.
>
One needs to remember that anything  published in the US before 1989 had 
to include a copyright notice.  If publicity shots of stars were being 
sent to fans without copyright notices all that would be in the public 
domain.

Ec