NPG-WMF talks are in progress. What would you like to see from them?

Erik Möller has just emailed this to the communications committee list, and said it can be posted publicly: “Quick note: The National Portrait Gallery contacted us to see if we can find a compromise regarding the images in question, and we’ve entered good faith discussions with them. Feel free to point this out in relevant … Continue reading “NPG-WMF talks are in progress. What would you like to see from them?”

Wikimedia writes on the NPG legal threat.

Erik Möller’s posted to the Wikimedia blog on the issue. Note the correction of the NPG’s claims that Wikimedia never responded to them (rather than responding with “Bridgeman v. Corel, go away”) — Erik assumes good faith and presumes this is in error. About the best roundup of coverage so far is Dcoetzee’s own link … Continue reading “Wikimedia writes on the NPG legal threat.”

Has anyone been in touch with the National Portrait Gallery?

I was going to call NPG this morning first thing as a volunteer, to see what could be reasonably done to avert a public battle — a public battle would really foul up our other museum liaison volunteers’ ongoing efforts. But I was awake all night with a sick child and so I just got … Continue reading “Has anyone been in touch with the National Portrait Gallery?”

Sue and be damned.

For several years, the National Portrait Gallery has claimed copyright over public domain images in their possession. Wikimedia has ignored these claims, occasionally laughing. (Bridgeman v. Corel. Sweat of the brow is not creation in US law; go away.) Our official stance in this time has been “sue and be damned.” So the National Portrait … Continue reading “Sue and be damned.”