Commons:Deletion requests/2024/07/04
July 4
[edit]
I don't see how the CC license could be valid. While the file description gives the source of the data, that doesn't mean that the information in those sources becomes free to use.
The map is a close copy of that in Hayward's book, page vi (down to specific choices like the decision of which geographical features to include). Even though that map was modified with further information about the distribution of the individual languages from Ethnologue, Hayward's map itself remains copyrighted.
Speaking of Ethnologue, https://www.ethnologue.com/pricing/ is very clear that the distribution maps are only available to paying subscribers, and https://www.ethnologue.com/general-terms-use/ (specifically points 2 and 3) further states that all the information on their site is copyrighted. In particular, reproduction of any content is prohibited (this includes, but is not limited to, their maps), and using any content from the site for commercial purposes requires their written consent. There is no indication that different rules applied when the file was uploaded.
The copyright issue was first raised on the file talk page in 2009, about a year after the upload. The uploader/author did not reply to those concerns, even though they continued to work on the file until 2012 (and have remained active as an administrator on the German Wikipedia from 2008 until stepping down in 2016, and as a user on Commons until 2020). That is to say, I'm surprised they didn't respond to it.
The same applies to the two derivative versions, File:Omotic languages sv.svg and File:Omotic languages mk.svg (a third one in English that is linked from the file description has apparently been deleted in the meantime). Renerpho (talk) 05:36, 4 July 2024 (UTC)
- I don't know if it's relevant, but this image has been featured on the main page of the German Wikipedia in 2022. Archive Renerpho (talk) 06:00, 4 July 2024 (UTC)
Comment Ethnologue has additional fair use guidelines,[1] but those state that Maps may be used in reports, presentations, displays, and other uses as long as they are not altered. (i.e., as long as the copyright watermark isn't removed), and graphic is not modified. [...] Any other use requires prior written permission from SIL International. They also limit the time for which fair use can be claimed for educational purposes: Educational multimedia projects created for educational purposes, and for teaching courses, may use SIL incorporated material for a period of up to two years after the first instructional use with a class. Use beyond that time period, even for educational purposes, requires permission for each copyrighted portion incorporated in the production. Renerpho (talk) 07:29, 9 July 2024 (UTC)- Comment genuine question: can information alone be copyrighted? The only issue I see is if perhaps the visual representation of this data is too close to Ethnologue's... but how many accurate ways are there to show a place on a 2D simplified map? Without seeing the Hayward map I can't be sure how similar it is. Because if information could be copyrighted, would it then be a copyright violation to provide accurate data in any visualization method, if they're the source for the information? But if it comes to it being too close a copy visually of the original maybe that's different (but again, how different can you make it without straying into inaccuracy)? PARAKANYAA (talk) 21:34, 6 October 2024 (UTC)