Encyc talk:Images
Add topicepically nice. :) Wikademia
WRT fair use...
[edit source]I think Wikipedia's non-free image use policy is unnecessarily strict.
The resolution of fair use images is routinely reduced. It is claimed that this helps those who own the intellectual property rights to the image nned this, to help preserve their ability to profit from the image. I do not believe there is an actual legal requirement to reduce the resolution.
Some print and broadcast media will use individual's profile pictures, from their social media to illustrate articles about those individuals. Those kinds of images are almost always not "free", so, presumably, used under an unstated claim of fair use. I think they are right to do so.
Patents, copyright, and fair use, are all supposed to benefit the public. During World War 2 the intellectual property rights to the design for the Jeep was owned by a very small manufacturing company. But the Allies needed half a million jeeps. So they told Willys they could either agree to license their designs to Ford, GM, John Deere and INternational Harvester, or the Government would expropriate their designs.
IMO, when an image genuinely qualifies for a far use claim, that should totally supercede the rights of the photographer or artist. Geo Swan (talk) 15:15, 14 November 2025 (UTC)
- It's an interesting discussion. Here's my opinion, for what that's worth:
- Fancruft - I don't think anyone cares if we post screenshots of Bugs Bunny or Thundercats or some band logo. But we need to be reasonable about it, of course, and responsive to any complaints.
- Profile pictures - I understand that other outlets do this, but I'd really rather not. It's an invasion of privacy and does not help our encyclopedic mission. There are many other wikis that do BLPs. We don't have to be one more.
- Intellectual property - I do think we should be respectful of intellectual property. The example of the Jeep is an extreme case. All kinds of things happen during war.
- Reducing resolution - I heard that Wikipedia does this sometimes and I think it's an interesting idea for a compromise solution. If you can get the point across with a small image file, then the need for encyclopedia content has been met. On the other hand, it can look crappy if done to extremes. But keep in mind that the majority of readers are using phones.
- Need for a community policy. No need to reinvent the wheel so I was just going along with standard practice, but if the community here has other ideas we could possibly change things. Enki (talk) 16:18, 14 November 2025 (UTC)