Wikipedia:WikiProject Images and Media/Free/Contacts/Napalm Records/Petition 004

Dear Thomas Steindl,

Thank you very much for the reply. I have contacted Wolfgang Koch regarding this matter as well, and have been checking with him the possibility of using the images in Wikipedia. However, for an image to be completely "free" (in the sense of freedom and not in the sense of without cost), commercial reuse is a needed clause, because one of the requirements is that anyone should be able to modify and redistribute the modified versions, both commercial and non commercially. I understand this is a rather complex issue, especially when talking about copyright and licensing, however it is my belief that it is possible for Napalm Records to release some promotional images under a free license that allows commercial reuse while retaining copyright, allowing Wikipedia (and the hundreds of mirrors currently available as well) to improve the visual quality of articles related to bands signed with Napalm Records. Every time a band does a concert or a tour, a number of contributors and casual readers go to Wikipedia to learn more about them, because there is usually information that is not available in official sites (like similar bands, articles about previous members, etc), and having images of the artists greatly enhances the awareness of the readers regarding them. Since we only accept "free" images, right now we can offer no image at all, or fan made images (like concert pictures), which are usually blurry, out of focus, cropped or from very far.

I hope I have explained the difference between the current promotional images (that are free -without cost- but licensed only for non commercial purposes), and the kind of free images Wikipedia needs (images that are licensed in such a way that allows modification and redistribution of both the original and the modifications, in both commercial and non commercial terms, as long as they are correctly attributed to Napalm Records as the copyright owner, and allowing Napalm Records to take actions against anyone using them in a libelous way, or in violation of personality rights, trademark restrictions, etc).

Best regards, Roberto Alfonso, Wikipedia editor and administrator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:ReyBrujo