in line linking

Hello all, 

I already talk about the matter, but havenot had much
feedback, except for Andre

Currently, it is possible in all wikipedia, but en, to
make external links for images.

external links are bad.

First because anyone may link inappropriate images
very easily, with little chance that it is noticed

Second, because an external link can disappear any
time, or worse, be replaced by another pict, making
the article cripple.

Third because it is using external server ressources
(which is not nice)

Fourth, because we pledge offering information whose
status we know of : public domain, gfdl, copyright
with permission etc... with an external link, we have
no control whatsoever. Worse, we may still be subject
to copyright infrigment (as one of the legal cases
explained by Alex show : 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_v._Arriba_Soft_Corporation

When we practice in line linking, we do not have
information on the image status.

For our users, we should provide for any picture, its
source or author, its copyright statut. This is only
way for the user to know what he may do with the
information, without fearing legal issues.

-------

For these 4 reasons, I suggested that inline linking
be forbidden on all wikipedias, reducing our
liability, and increasing the quality of information
provided to the end user. I think this is important.

As for now, no one rejected that suggestion, without
other answers, I will then put it on Brion fabulous
lists of things to do :-)

Only one person indicated a problem : the wish to make
inline linking with other wikipedias.
I understand this wish very well, as storing 10 times
an image, for each wikipedias is a bit weird and not
efficient, neither in terms of human time, nor in
terms of database space.

However, this problem raise the need of a common
resource for image storing. But imho, should not limit
our decision about inline linking.

Because,

First, the user is offered no information about an
image that is inline linked from another pedia. He
does nave access to the description file. We are
denying him important information.

Second, because obviously, all pedias have different
standard of uploading. An image is ok on one pedia
where copyright with permission is acceptable, but not
ok on another, which decided only gfdl images will be
ok.

But with an inline linking, the second wiki will find
itself with the copyrighted pict of the first, with
extremely little chance to check the image description
(except with extensive research, that no end user will
ever do). Hence, with inline linking to other pedias;
the more drastic pedia is claiming a position it does
not respect. I talk of knowledge because we deleted
several inline pict from other pedia, which just
appeared to be copyright infrigements.

So I would like some feedback. The only option I see
to solve that case is either that a common ressource
is set up, or that somehow, even with inline linking,
there is possibility to access the description on the
other pedia (and that at least english is provided on
all description images).

This is asking for consistent global policy, and does
not deny the right for each pedia to decide by itself;
But ihmo, authorizing inline linking should be the
exception, not the rule.

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