User talk:SamiMoubayed

Image Tagging Image:10263.jpg
Thanks for uploading Image:10263.jpg. I notice the image page currently doesn't specify who created the image, so the copyright status is therefore unclear. If you have not created the image yourself then you need to argue that we have the right to use the image on Wikipedia (see copyright tagging below). If you have not created the image yourself then you should also specify where you found it, i.e., in most cases link to the website where you got it, and the terms of use for content from that page.

If the image also doesn't have a copyright tag then you must also add one. If you created/took the picture then you can use GFDL to release it under the GFDL. If you can claim fair use use or fairuse. See Image copyright tags for the full list of copyright tags that you can use.

If you have uploaded other images, please check that you have specified their source and copyright tagged them, too. You can find a list of image pages you have edited by clicking on the "my contributions" link (it is located at the very top of any Wikipedia page when you are logged in), and then selecting "Image" from the dropdown box. Note that any unsourced and untagged images will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. Thanks so much. JesseW, the juggling janitor 19:27, 24 December 2005 (UTC) Hello!

Thanks for uploading some pictures to Wikipedia. I wanted to make sure you were aware of some of the requirements and good practices for uploaded images.


 * Pick an image name.
 * When uploading an image, pick a file name that is descriptive, and unique. Remember that many images may be uploaded about the same topic, and remember that names are case sensitive.


 * Source the image.
 * On the image description page, explain where the image came from. If you created the image yourself, then say so.  If it's from the web, give a URL.  If it's a screenshot of a movie or game, or a scan from a book, give the title.


 * Provide copyright and license information.
 * This part is a little bit trickier, but it's very important. The copyright of the image generally belongs to whomever created it.
 * If it's a photograph you took, or an image you created (modifying an image that already exists doesn't count) in software like Photoshop or GIMP, then you own the copyright. To upload it to Wikipedia, you must agree to license it under the GFDL (which allows anyone to use it, but requires that they give credit to the original author and requires that any further edit to the image be licensed under the GFDL as well) or release it into the public domain (which allows anyone to use it for any purpose without restriction.)  Do this by placing an appropriate tag on the image description page, like &#123;{GFDL}} or &#123;{PD}}.  Be sure to mention that you created the image.  If you're using &#123;{PD}}, you may also want to use &#123;{NoRightsReserved}}, since there is some dispute as to whether one may grant items into the public domain.
 * If you didn't create the image, or the copyright somehow belongs to another party (like a screenshot, which you might "create", but the copyright belongs to the author of the movie or video game), then you need to find another tag that describes the copyright status of the image. Images used on Wikipedia need to be free for our use and the use of sites which reproduce our content.  This means that images cannot have a restriction such as "only for use by Wikipedia", or "for non-commercial use only", or "for educational use".  Images without a free license may be usable in certain articles under fair use, but such a use should be justified on the image description page.


 * Describe the image.
 * To another reader, the image may not be immediately understood. A caption in an article doesn't explain the image to a visitor who sees it on its image page.  Put a brief explanation of what is in the image on the image description page, similar to what you might include in a caption on an article.

Some links to Wikipedia pages on this subject:

Copyrights, Copyright tags, Fair use, Image description page, Public domain, Images for deletion, Possibly unfree images, Copyright problems, Uploading images

Thanks again for your contributions. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me at my talk page. JesseW, the juggling janitor 19:27, 24 December 2005 (UTC)

Vandalism
Your vandalism of the image at the Georgian Bay article is not appreciated! I shall be watching, and if you do anything like that again, it will be duly reported to the proper authority and action will undoubtedly be taken. I shall now attempt to undo your damage, and I do not expect the incident to be repeated. Kelisi 00:07, 25 December 2005 (UTC)

Image tagging
Be aware that all the images you have so far uploaded(list below) - will be deleted unless you provide a source and verifiable statement of their copyright status(see message above for details). Please do not upload further images before you've tagged these. Thanks(I hope we can use them, they look like nice images). JesseW, the juggling janitor 09:14, 26 December 2005 (UTC) The list:
 * 18:42, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:199.jpg (Sami Moubayed) (top) [rollback]
 * 18:40, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:374.jpg (Sami Moubayed) (top) [rollback]
 * 18:37, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:064.jpg (Sami Moubayed) (top) [rollback]
 * 18:35, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:200.jpg (Sami Moubayed) (top) [rollback]
 * 18:27, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:555.jpg (top) [rollback]
 * 18:16, 24 December 2005 (hist) (diff) Image:232.jpg (Sami Moubayed) (top) [rollback]

Regarding the verbatim use of references
I am a bit confused about the ethics of lifting text verbatim from a reference book and putting it in articles like Nazim al-Kudsi and others. The reference in this case is Sami Moubayed's "Steel & Silk: Men and Women Who Shaped Syria 1900-2000." I assume that you are the author, Sami Moubayed? If you are not, then use of verbatim text from copyrighted material is illegal, even on Wikipedia. If you are he, and have chosen to forfeit your copyright by releasing the material into Wikipedia, then I suppose one cannot really challenge that. Indeed I feel a sense of obligation. But I remain concerned that Wikipedia should not become a repository of verbatim extracts from published works. It must be an original encyclopedia that uses and cites works of reference, but does not reproduce them word for word. I myself have used "Steel & Silk" repeatedly, and it's a wonderful reference, sometimes the only one for Syrian biographies. However, I make a great effort to put the information into my own words. Otherwise, I would be infringing copyright and defeating the purpose of Wikipedia. Do you realize, that if you are Sami Moubayed, and you cut-and-paste text from your copyrighted, published book and enter it into Wikipedia, you are licensing it under the GFDL. This may legally entitle anyone to use said text in any manner they wish, including for profit, without violating your copyright or entitling you to royalties. This is something you may want to examine, if you have not already. I know it may be a very strange thing to have to do, to put something into your own words when the original itself is already your own words, but to preserve the integrity of this encyclopedia, it is necessary. Thank you very much for your efforts to contribute to Wikipedia. Some helpful links: Copyrights, Manual of Style --AladdinSE 09:27, 27 January 2006 (UTC)