(WT-en) Jtpurdom

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Oh, and thanks for plunging forward and tackling Southern Tier. You're absolutely right that it could use some work!

-- (WT-en) LtPowers 15:29, 22 June 2009 (EDT)

Hey, just so you know -- there's no need to create an article title with a disambiguating phrase in parentheses unless there are other articles with the same title. For example, Broome County (New York) can just be Broome County, because there's only one. =) (WT-en) LtPowers 21:28, 30 June 2009 (EDT)

True, but I have run into so many pages that get screwed up because people link to the wrong page that it just seems like good practice to me. Besides, I never really know when there is another. Its just easier to define it now than do the research to figure out if there is another Broome County for instance. -- JTPurdom

OK, I mean this is a wiki, so someone will eventually fix it up, so it's not a big deal. What I do when I'm making new links is to link them without the parenthetical, then preview to see if the links are blue or red. If they're red, I'll create the new article there; if it's blue, then I have to check and see if it's the right one or not. If the link is red, it's okay to just create the article at that link; if another location by the same name turns up at some point, then we can easily move the page and create a disambiguation page in its stead. =) (WT-en) LtPowers 12:53, 1 July 2009 (EDT)

Image:Binghamton skyline 1.jpg edit

Hi, Jtpurdom. I have concerns about the image you uploaded, Image:Binghamton skyline 1.jpg. I don't think the e-mail that is quoted on the Wikimedia Commons version of the file (wikipedia:commons:File:City skyline 1.jpg) is sufficient to allow its use here. We don't know if it's public domain, or licensed under a free license like Creative Commons, or what. I would suggest looking for a different skyline image, or taking one yourself, so that we can be sure of the copyright status. Thanks! (WT-en) LtPowers 13:05, 10 July 2009 (EDT)

The City of Binghamton is hosting that picture on their city website alleging that the picture is theirs. As works by US Government cannot be copyrighted I wasn't overly concerned. However, I will contact them to see if the pictures are in the public domain or not. -JTPurdom 13:25, 10 July 2009

All images on the City of Binghamton website belong to the City of Binghamton and are in the public domain as stated by Andrew Block, Director of Community Relations, Office of the Mayor --JTPurdom 15:30, 10 July 2009

While I believe you that you got an email saying that from the Office of the Mayor, we usually require more documentation than that. It's a CYA thing, if you get my drift. If you have proof they've released the photo into the public domain, you might want to head over to Commons and let them know. (WT-en) LtPowers 16:23, 10 July 2009 (EDT)

What exactly do you need? I get your drift, however, even though I clearly have permission to use this and other photos, Safeharbor laws do apply to the website. I did post a response on the wikicommons with the exact wording from Andrew Block. -JTPurdom 17:36, 10 July 2009

I replied there with what Commons needs. Our requirements are similar. In short, what we need is a clear declaration of a specific license (or a clear statement that the photograph is not under copyright). Just saying that you can use it isn't enough. (WT-en) LtPowers 19:52, 10 July 2009 (EDT)

I can totally understand your frustration, but surely you understand that any organization has to keep their a$$es covered. Litigation can be very expensive, and reusing content that isn't actually free can get people into a lot of hot water. There is a relatively simple way that copyright holders can prove to Commons that they've released content under the license claimed. See wikipedia:commons:COM:OTRS for an explanation. In short, you ask the copyright holder for a specific license for a specific image -- both the license and the image must be explicitly named. You can then forward the email to permissions-commons@wikimedia.org. That's basically it! It's really quite simple, but they do need an explicit license. Just "You can use this" isn't enough because it doesn't say who "you" is nor what it can be used for. (WT-en) LtPowers 14:34, 20 July 2009 (EDT)

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