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How to proceed re Stewart Brand's photos

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Stewart Brand had sent me two jpeg's to add to the article I'd developed about Richard Raymond (publisher). On April 5, 2025 I sent him the following message:

Hello again Stewart. I was all set to forward your email to verify consent for my intent to upload the two pics you sent, to add to the Wikipedia article about Dick. Having only been a writer and editor in the past, this would have been my first crack at uploading an image. Alas, the pundits apprised me there's no way I could do that.

You’ve already been very gracious. But at this point my only option is to ask you, the photographer, if you’d be willing to consign the pics to a Creative Commons license. I’ve screen-shot the descriptive info for the CC templates, as found (if you scroll down) in this page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Donating_copyrighted_materials

It appears to me the most suitable license might be CC-BY-SA-4.0

To which Stewart replied on April 6:

I do so consign.

—Stewart Brand

I've uploaded the images to Creative Commons, titled "Richard "Dick" Raymond, 1963" and "Whole Earth Truck Store". But I want to know that Mr Brand's photos have been designated with the proper Creative Commons license. He is now 87 years old, and I'm hoping he did everything correctly.

How can this be done?Joel Russ (talk) 22:01, 6 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Joel Russ: Commons:Uploading works by a third party is still work in progress (right at the end it needs more detail about the actual upload process, which is slightly in flux at the moment), but it should answer most of your questions. You can skim or skip the first two-thirds or so, and start reading more closely at the section "If you need to obtain a license for copyrighted work". Do ask here if you have any specific questions that the page does not answer. - Jmabel ! talk
Convenience links File:Richard "Dick" Raymond, 1963.jpg, File:Whole Earth Truck Store.jpg. - Jmabel ! talk22:24, 6 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Since the pics in question are now "Files", would it be acceptable to upload the jpeg's onto the Richard Raymond article?Joel Russ (talk) 22:43, 6 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Joel Russ: What would be acceptable in en-wiki is for en-wiki to decide, but it looks to me like you still have not sorted out the permissions, which means the files are very likely to be deleted. Did you read the page I linked, which explains what is required? - Jmabel ! talk20:18, 7 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for your continued attention.
I knew I was never in a legal position to make the photos public domain. But at this point, my understanding is that Stewart Brand's consignment of the two photos to Creative Commons actually did take place, and so has become effective. I loaded one of those pics into the article about Richard Raymond.
I hope I'm not mistaken. But I think you're saying that I am.Joel Russ (talk) 01:15, 8 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Joel Russ: "my understanding is that Stewart Brand's consignment of the two photos to Creative Commons actually did take place": There are two ways spelled out in the document that I linked for us to know that an image is released by a third party: (1) a public-facing statement at a specified URL (or, rarely, in a print publication), (2) the approach in which the copyright-holder corresponds by email with the Volunteer Response Team (VRT). Which one are you saying applies here? - Jmabel ! talk18:26, 8 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Joel Russ: I do not see any sign that you are pursuing either of the ways mentioned above to clarify the permissions. Please, if you do not want the files deleted, this is not optional. - Jmabel ! talk22:50, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Joel Russ: I think you are almost there. The files look valuable, so please persist. You need to get Mr Brand to to email permissions-commons@wikimedia.org with:
I hereby affirm that I, Stewart Brand, am the creator and/or sole owner of the exclusive copyright of the following media work: :* https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Whole_Earth_Truck_Store.jpg :* https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Richard_"Dick"_Raymond,_1963.jpg :I agree to publish the above-mentioned work under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International. :I acknowledge that by doing so I grant anyone the right to use the work, even in a commercial product or otherwise, and to modify it according to their needs, provided that they abide by the terms of the license and any other applicable laws. :I am aware that this agreement is not limited to Wikipedia or related sites. :I am aware that the copyright holder always retains ownership of the copyright as well as the right to be attributed in accordance with the license chosen. Modifications others make to the work will not be claimed to have been made by the copyright holder. :I acknowledge that I cannot withdraw this agreement, and that the content may or may not be kept permanently on a Wikimedia project. :Stewart Brand :2025-04-17 :
It has to come from his email address. I got this text from Commons:Wikimedia_VRT_release_generator. Commander Keane (talk) 00:16, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Commander Keane, thank you. I've not lost interest, I want to take action and resolve the issue. Unfortunately, I have not had time to do so. I've been completely caught up in buying a house, which has many hurdles of its own, involving price negotiations, title searches, realtors, finance stuff, a lawyer, and so on. It’s filled up my time and brain bandwidth. But I think I'll be able to put time into Wikimedia/Wikipedia pretty soon.Joel Russ (talk) 04:03, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Joel Russ: that is fine, we are all volunteers and get busy in real life. I think the images will deleted eventually, but if you get Mr Brand to send through the email they can get restored. Good luck with your new house :-). Commander Keane (talk) 05:03, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Pictures from enb.iisd.org

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If I understand the Attibution Guideline [1] correctly, pictures from enb.iisd.org may be uploaded to Commons:

If so, could somebody please upload these pictures using the appropriate license templates? Thank you so much. 2001:67C:10EC:574F:8000:0:0:D621:41, 10 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, in the guidelines it states any usage will have to be approved by the website, so the images are not free to upload to Commons without prior permission. Thank you. Tvpuppy (talk) 22:52, 10 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I've written to IISD to ask them to use standard CC licences - mentioning this here so other people don't duplicate that. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits14:04, 13 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Pigsonthewing: Any reaction from them yet? 2001:67C:10EC:574F:8000:0:0:1122:12, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No, but then this is Easter fortnight, so if we are going to get a reply I wouldn't expect it yet. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits11:11, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Login

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When I log in to Commons, the message “The specified authentication token has either expired or is invalid” is displayed.

URL: https://auth.wikimedia.org/commonswiki/w/index.php?title=Special:UserLogin&returnto=Main_Page&centralauthLoginToken=680d6d0e2f46c64ca0b07ab32bd46dcc&usesul3=1&useformat=desktop&uselang=de

Question: Am I doing something wrong?

F. Riedelio • 💬09:10, 16 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Load another page on "Commons". What happens when you do this ? Anatole-berthe (talk) 07:37, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If I log in via another page (e.g. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Categories?uselang=de), the message does not appear. F. Riedelio • 💬10:01, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The message does not appear if you log on another page. It does seem the problem is resolved.
You did certainly used a token that has expired. Anatole-berthe (talk) 10:53, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for your feedback.
Unfortunately, this is not the solution to the problem, but a workaround.
Unfortunately, I don't know why the token has expired or is invalid. I also don't know how to create a valid token.
It would be helpful if someone could help me with this.
The incomprehensible thing is that I am logged in despite this message. F. Riedelio • 💬06:26, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@F. Riedelio: You could try to have your browser forget all cookies relating to WMF wikis. Failing that, forget all cookies (drastic, I know). Or change browser, OS, device, etc.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 09:47, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@F. Riedelio Did you tried what @Jeff G. said ? Anatole-berthe (talk) 10:50, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The faulty behavior is the same under
  • Windows 11 Pro, version 24H2, build 26100.3775 with
  • Microsoft Edge, version 135.0.3179.85 (64-bit) or
  • Firefox, version 137.02 (64-bit)
Likewise on another PC with Windows 10 Home, version 22H2, build 19045.5679.
Even with cookies and website data never allowed. F. Riedelio • 💬16:23, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Did you tried to logg-off then logg-on again ? Anatole-berthe (talk) 19:40, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
You can also try to switch the state of "stay logged in".   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 01:14, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I have tried several times to log out and log back in without success. F. Riedelio • 💬07:07, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The status “Stay logged in” cannot be changed.
If I check the checkbox when I log in, it is deselected when I log in again. F. Riedelio • 💬07:12, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Photo not uploading

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I have tried to upload a photo that I took April 15 of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, three times without success. I did share the photo on Facebook, but I took it. My phone battery was dead, so I used my wife's phone, but I am the photographer. Any suggestions about how I can upload this photo? Cullen328 (talk) 08:09, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

By the way, I am using the Android app, which has otherwise been working well for me for the past couple of years. Cullen328 (talk) 08:11, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Cullen328: Hi, and welcome. Before anyone accuses you of copyright infringement, please comment on the Facebook photo that it is licensed with whatever free license you chose (default here is cc-by-sa 4.0). I see no evidence in your logs of your attempted upload.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 13:44, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Jeff G., I have done so. Here is the link. Cullen328 (talk) 16:11, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
What's the error message that's popping up? DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 08:29, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
DoctorWhoFan91, the only error message that I got was something to the effect of "Don't upload something you found on the internet. Only upload photos that you took". From there on, things seemed normal but the photo would not appear in my uploads. Cullen328 (talk) 16:11, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That shouldn't be happening- did you get an option to click on "own work?" I am not familiar with the app, how would it know that the image wasn't taken with your phone, let alone think that moving between devices means a violation. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 17:47, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It always tells me this (Maybe because I remove exif from my photos, uploading an image on Facebook will strip the exif too), it's just a warning and I press upload anyway and it works  REAL💬⬆  00:20, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, that was what I was wondering- there might be a warning, but it shouldn't be stopping the upload. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 04:53, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Whatever caused the problem has fixed itself and I have successfully uploaded the photo. Thanks to all. Cullen328 (talk) 05:28, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Extract still photo from video (request)

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I'm working on English WP article "Silent Parade" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Parade), and i'm having a hard time finding a free-use image. However, there is a free-use newsreel (movie) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Negroes%27_Protest_a_Silent_Parade_1917.webm Are there any volunteers here in Wiki Commons that can extract some still pics from the movie? Or is there an (easy) tool I can run to do that? Noleander (talk) 18:18, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Noleander. I think the most straightforward way is to screenshot the video. For example, in Chrome, you can do this by pausing the video, right-click the video, then there will be an option to copy/save the video frame. Then you can upload the screenshot here in Commons. If you want I can do this for you, just let me know the timestamps then I will be able to do it. Tvpuppy (talk) 00:13, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@User:Tvpuppy Okay, thanks, I can do that. I thought perhaps a screenshot would reduce the image quality (since the video player may be extrapolating or smoothing the original video data as it draws and resizes the video on the computer screen). In particular: if the video was higher resolution that my computer monitor (tho that is unlikely for a 1917 movie... but really it depends on who digitized the film, which happened in the 1980s or 1990s?). But it is certainly an easy approach to get some still photos. Thx. Noleander (talk) 00:37, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Noleander: you could try saving the code:
<div style="width:1442px; overflow-x:auto;">[[File:Negroes' Protest a Silent Parade 1917.webm|thumbtime=24|thumb|1442px]]</div>
in your Commons sandbox. That will force the video to the specified width, in this case the same as the filepage native resolution: 1442px (note the two occurrences of 1442px in the code).
Then view-source in your browser > find the upload.wikimedia.org url with that has /thumb/ in it ending with .jpg > open that url in your browser > right-click Save Image As > upload that.
I tried an example with a higher resolution file in my userspace using the code:
<div style="width:3840px; overflow-x:auto;">[[File:Mandelbrotzoom 20191023.webm|thumbtime=42|thumb|3840px]]</div>
to get the mediawiki server to generate this jpg that seems to be a 3840 x 2160px file. This is the server doing the conversion and I am not exactly sure of the quality implications, so the screenshot method may be better and easier. But you don't need to buy a 4k monitor or play the video to take the screenshot ;-) I tried Special:Upload and putting the thumb url directly in there, but "Copy uploads are not available from this domain". Given the file is already on the Wikimedia servers, maybe there is a way to automate this process. Commander Keane (talk) 03:33, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks, that sounds like a great idea. Noleander (talk) 03:51, 18 April 2025 (UTC).[reply]
@Noleander: I will add that due to bug described in Phab:T228467 my method will only work for the nearest second, so if you want a specific frame you are out of luck. You missed a bracket in your resolved attempt below by the way. Commander Keane (talk) 03:53, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Resolved

Delete upload, fair use question

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Hi there! I was wondering how I would delete an image I uploaded that turned out to violate copyright? I put the speedy deletion tag again on it, but it doesn't seem to let me directly delete the text from the page. The file in question is: File:Deportees_Arrive_at_El_Salvador_International_Airport.jpg Additionally, would this file be considered fair use (if uploading as non-free to only the English wikipedia)? Tritoneditor24 (talk) 06:45, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Deleted by Túrelio. Yann (talk) 08:33, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Tritoneditor24: There is no such thing as a file being "fair use." As term suggests, "fair use" is always about whether a particular use is "fair". So, for example, a small image of an album jacket is fair use in an article about the album, but probably would not be if you just thought it was a cool illustration for an unrelated article. This is why en:Template:Non-free use and other similar en-wiki templates always require justifications for use in a particular article. - Jmabel ! talk01:12, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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Is this copyright notice okay? This is a screenshot from a tablet. [2]Kikikiki.aka (talk) 08:28, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think this is stock Android and Template:Android Open Source Project REAL💬⬆  14:20, 18 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
[edit]

Die Kartenskizze wurde vor mehr als 70 Jahren erstmals in einem heute nicht mehr existierenden Verlag Amstutz & Herdeg in Zürich veröffentlicht und der Urheber der Kartenskizze ist unbekannt. Die Kartenskizze wurde zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt auch im Himalayan Journal abgedruckt. --Tkb (talk) 22:07, 19 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Tkb: Assuming that amounts to an assertion that it is in the public domain, you still need to add an appropriate tag to the file page saying why.- Jmabel ! talk00:12, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

File:Mars Kota Bekasi.mp3

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Tolong aku untuk membuat lisensinya Sdsecret (talk) 00:06, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Convenience link: File:Mars Kota Bekasi.mp3. There appears never to have been a file by this name on Commons, nor has this user ever edited a file with a similar name. - Jmabel ! talk00:16, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Although it seems that they tried repeatedly [3]. -- Asclepias (talk) 00:13, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Sdsecret: MP3 uploads are restricted (due to the fact that sound recordings are a more complicated area copyright-wise). Abzeronow (talk) 00:38, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Bahasa Indonesia: Berkas MP3 sementara dibatasi ke orang yang punya hak autopatrol atau lebih karena lebih rumit peraturan hak ciptanya, coba konversi ke OGG atau format lain dulu sebelum diupload, jika masalahnya memang itu
English: MP3 files are restricted to people with autopatrol rights or higher at the time being, due to more complicated copyright rules, try converting it into OGG or another file format if this is the problem I assume
HyperAnd (talk) 03:07, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Question about uploading photos of MacArthur Fellows with CC BY-NC 4.0 licenses

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Hello. I'm making some improvements to Timothy Barrett (papermaker) on Wikipedia, and I found images of him on the MacArthur Foundation's website (scroll down to "Photos of Timothy Barrett") with a CC BY-NC 4.0 license that I was hoping to use. I'm not very experienced in how all of this works but I thought maybe that licensing meant I could upload them here, especially because I found other images of MacArthur Fellows that were uploaded to Wikimedia within the last year, such as File:AWong.jpg. I decided to give it a shot, but when my upload completed I saw that the same file had already been uploaded and deleted in 2016 per Commons:Deletion requests/Files in Category:MacArthur Foundation Images of Fellows. I read through the discussion but am still feeling pretty confused. I'm also wondering whether the MacArthur Foundation may have also changed some of their wording since 2016, since the discussion mentions wording about photos being available for use by the media only, and the current wording here says that photos are "...available for download, including use by media..." (emphasis mine). To recap, my question is, could anyone tell me if something has changed since that 2016 deletion discussion that makes use of these photos permissible now? Or is there something about File:AWong.jpg that makes it different from the one I'm trying to upload? Thank you, FrogUnderALilyPad (talk) 06:53, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Well, it's a very confusing discussion and a very confusing license- I don't think the image is under the correct license, as a user would not come under media. The wording has changed, but because Commons images are not restricted for use, the wording change is pretty much irrelevant. File:AWong.jpg should probably be deleted too, but I'll wait for a more experienced user to nominate it for deletion. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 08:57, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
This December 2023 capture shows them to be very confused about licensing, but one of the licences used there is CC by 4.0 -- Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits14:52, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, but as was discussed in the linked dr, it was held that a restricted license means that even if cc by 4.0 applies to media organisations, the license would be invalid for use as it would restrict non-wiki use. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 14:57, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@FrogUnderALilyPad: Nothing has changed for Commons. The license of that website is still CC BY-NC (non-commercial), which is not accepted by Wikimedia, so the contents cannot be uploaded to Commons. The wording that has changed relates only to the special licensing for the media. The wording changed between 7 April 2018 and 21 April 2018. Before the change, it was confusing and inconsistent because it attempted to offer a CC BY license restricted for media only, which is not possible. After the change, now the license offered to the media is a custom attribution license, which seems ok. There's still a CC BY link loose in the webpage, but now it refers to nothing. -- Asclepias (talk) 00:02, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you everyone for the replies, I appreciate it. FrogUnderALilyPad (talk) 03:53, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Relicensing of art made by David Revoy

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Recently he made a blogpost stating that he will relicense his pre-2012 artworks under CC BY instead of CC BY-NC-ND. Just asking if someone had already imported the images into Commons. HyperAnd (talk) 13:05, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I searched in a bunch of different ways- through categories, through the search box, through google etc, but couldn't find it- so it's very unlikely they have been uploaded yet. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 14:29, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
To be clear he said "I've been working on re-releasing around 25 of my 'best-of' digital paintings from before 2012, under a new license." - it's not all of his pre-2012 artworks. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits14:45, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

UPLOAD IMAGE

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https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsprotons#:~:text=Protons%20contain%20two%20up%20quarks,Unlike%20neutrons%2C%20protons%20are%20stable.

DOE Explains… Protons

AN IMAGE OF A PROTON ON THE ABOVE PAGE CAPTION [IMAGE COURTESY OF BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY]

CAN I UPLOAD THIS TO THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE ON PROTONS UNDER THE TALK SECTION.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ProtonPauler76 (talk) 17:05, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

N00b questions about uploading Gutenberg images

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Hello! Long time en.wiki contributor, first time uploader here. I'd like to upload a bunch of images from a PD book released on Gutenberg. Based on the excellent intro help docs here, I'm pretty sure I understand the basic upload wizard mechanics and licensing considerations, but I have some other questions:

1. First off, there's obviously no point in duplicating work. Are there any good heuristics for checking whether someone else might have already uploaded these same images, likely under filenames other than the ones Gutenberg uses? The images fall into a handful of broad classifications (photos of architectural exteriors and interiors; floorplans; illustrations of architectural detail, etc), but depict dozens of different subjects.

2. Are there any guides specific to some of these classes (such as the floorplans)? The guides I've found so far seem to be (understandably) relatively heavily focused on photos, art, and to some extent video. I want to make sure I'm not missing any special handling or other considerations for these other files.

3. I'm planning to first upload a few files individually, come back here to get feedback on how to make them better, and then do a bulk upload of the rest (~200 images). It seems that there are a bunch of upload tools, so I was wondering which would be most appropriate for a Commons newbie to bulk upload images like these (where each one will need different metadata and categorization because there are a variety of authors, subjects, and filetypes) from an Intel Mac?

4. Any suggestions for being less overwhelmed when it comes to finding / selecting file categories?

Thanks for your help! -- Avocado (talk) 18:51, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

1. Usually the upload wizard detects duplicates by itself. Additionally, if you want, you can look at some of the categories and see if anyone might have uploaded images.
4.I usually check the categories in a separate tab to see if a particular subcategory might be better for the file. Though don't worry too much- you or someone else can always change the categories if you think they could be more specific. Plus, as long as they are findable by people who would want to use them, it is fine. DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 05:16, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Upload will only detect exact matches. Even a pixel's difference will make it fail.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=%22The+Growth+of+the+English+House%22&title=Special%3ASearch&ns0=1&ns6=1&ns9=1&ns12=1&ns14=1&ns100=1&ns106=1&searchToken=1oirrr6vsnkwx588g0kffbhqi finds a fair number of images from this book. We should certainly create a category specific to the book. - Jmabel ! talk05:27, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
You might want to start by "curating" the images we already have from the book, in terms of categories, etc.
Does someone have an example of a similar book or body of architectural drawings that was done well?
FWIW, Seattle and the Orient and its corresponding category are a good example for a book of a very different nature.
- Jmabel ! talk05:39, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you so much -- this is super helpful as a starting point! Can you point me to any resources about the type of "curating" you'd suggest, please? -- Avocado (talk) 13:57, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Ah, thank you -- that's good to know! -- Avocado (talk) 13:58, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Avocado: what I mean by "curating" is that most likely the images we already have were brought in one-by-one with no thought to overall categorization. (I haven't looked into whether similar issues might also apply to descriptions for these particular images.) Content—especially content already available elsewhere online—is worth a lot more if it is well-described and well-categorized. The book I mentioned is a good example of this; another (one of my ongoing projects) is Category:Seattle Municipal Archives via Flickr. If you look at those, you will see that besides categorization, most of them have more detailed descriptions than at the source, and often higher-resolution versions of the photo than on Flickr. (Those higher-resolution versions are drawn from th archive itself.) For a good example, compare the categories and description (including links) of File:Aqua Follies flyer, 1952 (35565289371).jpg to the image source at https://www.flickr.com/photos/seattlemunicipalarchives/35565289371/. - Jmabel ! talk19:12, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Okay, I think I see what you mean. Will probably be back with more questions later, but it looks like I've at least got some next steps lined up. Appreciate your patient guidance! -- Avocado (talk) 19:28, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Question about an inscription

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i've photographed a groundplate in a belgium church, which inscription i truly can't decipher - File:BE DOL BD Église Saint-Georges Siegel und Inschrift Boden.jpg

The language could be (old) french or latin, the letters seems to be artistic with a runic character.

Can anybody help? Grunpfnul (talk) 18:51, 20 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

That is the most confusing western European inscription I ever remember seeing. - Jmabel ! talk05:49, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Grunpfnul If you don't get a good reply here, you can try Wikipedia:Reference desk/Language. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 06:00, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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The State Library of Victoria has a number of images that are marked as Out of Copyright and give this instruction: "How can I use this item? Copyright. This work is out of copyright. Conditions of use. There are no copyright restrictions on this work. You can use this work for any purpose, including commercial uses, however State Library Victoria does not endorse or support any derogatory uses of this work. In using this work, please acknowledge the work's creator and title (where known), and State Library Victoria as the source of the work."

Here is an example of a work I want to use. An art catalogue published in Australia in 1939 and very likely not published in the US. What Creative Commons license should I give it? https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE2382170&file=FL17043245&mode=browseLPascal (talk) 11:09, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think the announcement of the exhibition is what's out of copyright, and not the artworks themself. For example- this link is for the artworks of Inez Abbott, but she died in 1957, which means copyright expires in 2027(in both Australia and the US). DoctorWhoFan91 (talk) 16:38, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@LPascal: I concur with DoctorWDoctorWhoFan91. That SLV link and copyright refers to the three page typed document. Per item D in {{PD-Australia}}, typed works published in Australia prior to 1 January 2000 are out of copyright in Australia. You would still need to consider US copyright for Wikimedia Commons and I don't think you are interested in the announcement itself. The document has a reproduction on the first page, but I am not sure if SLV has evaluated that for copyright.
A Creative Commons licence is not suitable unless you know the copyright holder has released their rights. Commander Keane (talk) 03:46, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The comment from DoctorWhoFan91 and Commander Keane seem to be about two different things so I need to clarify. It is the three page catalogue that I want to upload and place on her article. So it will be the cover page, the letter on the second page and the list of her artworks in the exhibition on the third page. She is listed as the author/creator but may or may not have been the actual author of the catalogue. It could have been Sedon Galleries as the author because they put on the exhibition. The gallery would have compiled and published the catalogue. There is a small and rather poor black and white reproduction of one of Inez Abbott's artworks on the cover page but she would have given permission to Sedon Galleries to put this reproduction on the cover. The catalogue was donated anonymously to the SLV. So I believe that the SLV means the whole three page catalogue is out of copyright and as the publication date was 1939, it's a printed work out of copyright like the newspapers in Trove which we take images and letters from. What do you think? LPascal (talk) 12:22, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@LPascal: oops I didn't see much value in the catalogue itself so didn't think you wanted it. I am at the limit of my copyright knowledge, but I would say that Inez Abbott still maintains copyright on the reproduction and her permission to Seddon Galleries doesn't extend to a free license for Commons.
You may be claiming de minimis on the reproduction on the first page, but it looks pretty central to me. You could blur the artwork to be safe.
I think the typeface copyright doesn't apply to creativity of the writing itself. So a journalist/newspaper holds copyright on the text of their article, but not on the typeface.
In this case the text is a list and some details not meeting the threshold of originality, possibly apart from the foreward - but maybe R. Valluad died more than 70 years ago.
Newspaper clippings from Trove may have public domain photos (pre 1955) we use, US copyright should be condidered too though. I would imagine the newspaper article text copyright is held by the journalist. And letter writers hold their own copyright.
An expert from Commons:Village pump/Copyright may have a better understanding than me about all of this. Commander Keane (talk) 13:17, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Profile addition

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How can I add my profile to Wikipedia Fikretkargi51 (talk) 11:43, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Fikretkargi51: You can't. Wikimedia projects are not social media, and we do not accept non educational content. Please read COM:SCOPE. Thanks, Yann (talk) 11:48, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Fikretkargi51: English Wikipedia is a different project to this one. Your user page there is at w:en:User:Fikretkargi51. They have user page guidelines at w:en:Wikipedia:User pages. I would suggest a short simple introduction about yourself and your editing interests. Wikipedia is about contributing improvements, not so much about academic pedigree and profiles. Good luck with your editing. Commander Keane (talk) 13:00, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

File:Prospero Sanidad.jpg

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Hello everyone please remove the thumbnail this another version for this photo of Prospero Sanidad because this is a wrong edited image. Thank you!!!

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/c/c3/20250421100940%21Prospero_Sanidad.jpgTheJediMaster327 (talk) 18:32, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@TheJediMaster327: as far as I know, no human user has direct control over the pages in subdomain upload.wikimedia.org. That file is algorithmically generated from File:Prospero Sanidad.jpg. - Jmabel ! talk05:58, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@TheJediMaster327: maybe you are having purge issues. Try purging the page(s) where you want the file to be updated: Help:Purge.
That url you gave won't change but is not relevant as far as I can understand. Commander Keane (talk) 08:15, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Welke foto's

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Hoi, ik begreep dat er een lijst is van foto's/afbeeldingen die gezocht worden. Ik zou graag een bijdrage willen leveren, maar weet niet goed waar ik kan beginnen. WiekeNL (talk) 18:50, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@WiekeNL: There are some lists, but nothing comprehensive. Probably the best place to start is en:Category:Wikipedia requested photographs. That said, you can also look around for Commons categories that relate to places or things near you, and fill in any gaps you notice. - Jmabel ! talk19:20, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

How to handle wrong license and source/authorship

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Hello, i try to help cleaning up the uncategorized files and while i check on them, i found this file: File:Francisco Paredes Herrera.jpg

The source, as the ownership (and mostly license) are completly wrong - Manuel Jesús Serrano was the original photograph and you can find this image on the web many times (and often in a higher resolution).

So, should i just correct the info template and correct the license (CC0), or how should this image be handled? Grunpfnul (talk) 18:59, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Huiñai Cosíos M: this is your recent upload. Can you explain what is going on here, and why you said this is your own work?
@Grunpfnul: Yes, if the image has a known source and is out of copyright, feel free to replace inaccurate information with accurate information. - Jmabel ! talk19:23, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Captions from YouTube

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Hello editors, I have difficulty uploading subtitles from YouTube and request assistance with completing captions at File:040213 FLOTUS FilmWorkshop HD.webm; this may be helpful in supplying a part of its text. Thanks. Yovt (talk) 23:04, 21 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Yovt, I have imported the subtitles from the YouTube video and I added it to the TimedText file. Tvpuppy (talk) 00:03, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Tvpuppy, In the future, I can run whisper turbo on any video needing captions (I have it running locally on my computer). All the Best -- ChuckTalk01:24, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That’s great. Thanks for letting me know. Tvpuppy (talk) 10:01, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Should i move some images from Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam to Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi

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So i've spent lots of times for identifying traffic lights in photos taken in Hanoi on Wikimedia Commons and add Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam to them. And this caused that category to be populated mostly by Hanoi traffic signals and very little from elsewhere in Vietnam, so today i used Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi instead but what should i do with the images i added Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam

My options:

1. Add Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi and keep Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam

2. Remove Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam and add Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi

thanks everyone Stvk Công Cuối (VN) (talk) 02:01, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Stvk Công Cuối (VN): I think you would do option 2 and make Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi a subcategory of Category:Traffic_signals_in_Vietnam.
To link a category to its parent, you edit it and place the parent category link there. For example, edit Category:Traffic_signals_in_Hanoi and place "[[Category:Traffic signals in Vietnam]]" there. Commander Keane (talk) 04:05, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Are the wojak memes really copyrighted?

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I can't find the wojak, doomer, soyjak, doomer girl, tradgirl, pepe wojak, boomer wojak, crying wojak, or npc wojak anywhere on Commons. Are they really all copyrighted even though they're mostly made by random unknown people on the internet and copied into numerous variations without credit in the same way that public domain images can be copied and transformed? 2601:644:8184:F2F0:EC7D:241A:7805:DCE206:59, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Are they really all copyrighted even though they're mostly made by random unknown people on the internet and copied into numerous variations without credit in the same way that public domain images can be copied and transformed?"

Then those uses were copyright infringements, memes works like that but now how copyright works
Annonymous works were still copyrighted by default Stvk Công Cuối (VN) (talk) 08:00, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yes. This is a very real problem in how copyright law doesn't align with what people think is fair and appropriate, and how cultural works used to be copied, tweaked and built upon through history. As digital copying is so easy, authors need some protection or support, but the current laws make good-faith spreading of intellectual property all too cumbersome. –LPfi (talk) 11:32, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
"memes works like that but now how copyright works"
typo fix: memes works like that but not how copyright works Stvk Công Cuối (VN) (talk) 13:08, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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I uploaded some cartoons I know have fallen into the Public Domain, however apparently I have to add stable links to both the original copyright entry and relevant volume(s) of the CCE to confirm the non-renewal. I guess I have to add links to entries for when it first got copyrighted and when it fell out of copyright? How do I do this kind of stuff? SteamboatWilly2 (talk) 12:49, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@SteamboatWilly2: No, you don't really have to prove the non-renewal by links. As long as you seem pretty consistently to get it right, this should be fine. Of course, if someone were to show that renewal did happen for any of the uploads you claim were not renewed, it casts a certain level of suspicion on the others that you uploaded. - Jmabel ! talk17:46, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Images provided from author

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Hello! I have images I want to upload to my wiki page that have been granted to me by the author. How do I do this and add the appropriate credit? Thank you! ButFirstFika (talk) 14:46, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@ButFirstFika: Hi, and welcome. The procedure is at VRT.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 14:49, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Commons:Uploading works by a third party may give you a broader how-to than VRT; you can probably skim roughly the first half before you get to the parts that are relevant for you. - Jmabel ! talk18:04, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Association SRT41 image lisence

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I found an image of the undocumented on Wikipedia Association SRT41 Garage 56 entry.

I'd like to know what the license on this photo is so I know whether it's safe to upload or not.

Source: https://24h-en-piste.com/en/AfficherDetails.php?Type=Course&Annee=2021&Numero=84 Image 2 of 3 Lumakid100 (talk) 15:01, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Lumakid100, it states “© Laurent Dangeard” under the image, so the image is copyrighted by him. Also, the website’s legal notice states, “All reproduction rights are reserved, including …photographic representations”. This means you cannot upload the image without prior permission from Laurent Dangeard, which appears to be the website owner. Tvpuppy (talk) 17:56, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
[edit]

Die hier gezeigte Kartenskizze stammt aus einem 1939 erschienenen Buch. Ein Urheber ist weder auf der Karte noch im Buch genannt. Nach deutschem Urheberrecht erlischt der Schutz für Werke unbekannter Urheber spätestens 70 Jahre nach Veröffentlichung (§ 64 UrhG). Für einfache Lichtbilder beträgt die Schutzfrist sogar nur 50 Jahre ab Veröffentlichung. Da die Veröffentlichung 1939 erfolgte, ist die Abbildung spätestens seit Ende 2009 gemeinfrei und kann frei verwendet werden.

Genügen Euch diese Angaben? Könnt ihr bitte die fehlenden Angaben, die erforderlich sind einfügen, da ich nicht weiss, wie man das richtig macht.

Inzwischen habe ich noch eine Expeditionskarte eingefügt, bei der ebenfalls die obenstehnde Begründung zutrifft.


--Tkb (talk) 21:50, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Do we remove the words "File" and "png" from the name of this new file?

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mrs_Arnold_Lupton_in_1909_when_President_of_the_Sleaford_Women%E2%80%99s%E2%80%99_Liberal_Association.png


It appears at the bottom of this wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Lupton - can the photo be made a tiny bit smaller please? Thanks 115.70.23.7722:41, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Section header makes no sense to me. On Commons (as on any other mediawiki wiki) if we don't title it this way it won't work as a PNG file.
To make it smaller where it is displayed on a particular wiki page is entirely an issue on that wiki. Commons does not control the display size of an image. You may want https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Images. - Jmabel ! talk22:51, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I've adjusted the size of the display on enwiki so the image is smaller. Abzeronow (talk) 22:59, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Srbernadette: Please login and use internal links. On enwiki, you may also benefit from en:H:PIC.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 23:11, 22 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Can I Upload Published Photos of Others?

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I have a picture of the leader of Slowjamastan attending the NATO Summit. I want to upload it to the page. Can I do this? Phaze4448 (talk) 04:21, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Phaze4448: Hi, and welcome. Where exactly was the photo published? What page do you want to upload it to?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 10:37, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It was published on the Slowjamastan website. I want to upload it to the Non-Nato Attending countries List on thee 2024 Nato Summit Page. His name and Slowjamastan are already on the page. 99.50.201.3003:27, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Im not logged in but it's still me. 99.50.201.3003:28, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Phaze4448: You call that exact?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 12:24, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The New Frontier: NATO Attendance for Slowjamastan! - The Republic of Slowjamastan 99.50.201.3014:24, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
https://www.slowjamastan.org/2024/07/16/sultan-attends-nato-summit/The New Frontier: NATO Attendance for Slowjamastan! - The Republic of Slowjamastan 99.50.201.3014:25, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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hallo, habe am Straßenrand einen alten gerahmten Fotodruck vom Holstentor in Lübeck gefunden. Ein handschriftlicher Gruß auf der Rückseite ist von 1948. Das Foto stammt offensichtlich von Farbfoto und Verlag: Karl Braune, Lübeck ohne Datum/Jahr

Ist es schon frei für WikiCommons? Schöne Grüße!


--Wikitarisch (talk) 11:58, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Wikitarisch: Auf welcher Grundlage glauben Sie, dass dies nicht urheberrechtlich geschützt ist? - Jmabel ! talk18:25, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
 Not OKKarl Braune starb 1971, also ist das Foto in Deutschland noch bis Ende 2041 urheberrechtlich geschützt. In den USA wahrscheinlich noch länger, je nach Erstveröffentlichung des Fotos. Falls die erste Veröffentlichung 1948 war, ist das Foto in den USA noch bis Ende 2043 geschützt. --Rosenzweigτ18:38, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
hallo Jmabel & Rosenzweig,
vielen Dank für den Hinweis. War mir nicht sicher, bei so einem "Nachdruck" eines Bildes von 1948.
Habe es gerade zur Löschung vorgeschlagen.
Vielen Dank! Wikitarisch (talk) 05:21, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

On official insignia

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So there are two things that I need a bit of advice on. Currently, all of these images exist as "external media" templates on wikipedia.

  1. Defunct people's armed police/MPS Active Service Forces(PAP units under the command of the ministry of public security) agency emblems. This xinhua article has all of the badges of PAP branches/agencies that became defunct in 2018. Currently the China fire service's patch already exists on commons, however I am hesitant to upload the other emblems since I want to make sure I am allowed to upload them.
  2. Chinese navy ship emblems. This article on the Anhui provincial national defense education office website has many chinese navy ship emblems, along with this article on the Guangxi regional veterans affairs department that has the Chinese LHD Guangxi's emblem. I have asked about this before on the wikiproject military history discussion page along with the help desk, where I was advised to just use external media templates instead. However, I would still like to hear advice on whether navy ship emblems fall under Article 5 of the PRC copyright law(which states "This law shall not apply to laws and regulations, resolutions, decisions and orders of State organs, other documents of a legislative, administrative or judicial nature and the official translations thereof;") or whether Template:Insignia also applies to navy ship emblems, and therefore whether navy ship insignia can be uploaded onto wikimedia commons
  3. I have started a topic on Wikiproject military history regarding which version of the PLAGF aviation badge should be uploaded; see full context there

Thehistorianisaac (talk) 14:48, 23 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Undisclosed paid editing in violation of the WMF Terms of Use

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Hi team need help on getting my account unblock, as a comms team member for the organization i am trying to create a page for the director general who is a well know Indian scientist and ex ICAR DG. Please suggest what to be done. Icrisatcommunications (talk) 04:30, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Icrisatcommunications: It sounds like you're referring to your block on the English Wikipedia. This is the help desk for the Wikimedia Commons, a separate project that hosts freely licensed media -- this is not the place to get help with blocks on the English Wikipedia. I recommend you read the instructions left on your English Wikipedia talk page. Ultimately, undisclosed paid editing is against the rules, and you should generally not be creating pages for your organization or people related to your organization. ~Kevin Payravi(talk)04:43, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you for the info. Icrisatcommunications (talk) 04:51, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Can I upload a higher resolution version of public domain image from Getty?

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This File:Joel Kaplan.jpg image is a very low resolution crop of Joel Kaplan's official portrait, published by the White House in 2006. This photo was taken by Eric Draper, the official White House photographer at the time. This authorship is confirmed by both the Alamy and Getty Images listings for this photo. As an employee of the US Federal Government, that makes this photo in the public domain.

Can I improve this image on Wikimedia Commons with a higher resolution version from Alamy or Getty Images, since there are no copyright restrictions on the original photo?

https://www.alamy.com/no-film-no-video-no-tv-no-documentary-new-deputy-chief-of-staff-for-policy-joel-kaplan-pictured-in-washington-dc-usa-on-april-19-2006-photo-by-eric-draperwhite-housekrtabacapresscom-image386878682.html

https://www.gettyimages.co.nz/detail/news-photo/in-this-undated-handout-photo-new-deputy-chief-of-staff-news-photo/57368405

Cooper37 (talk) 14:32, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Since this agency is known for rigorously pursuing what they consider to be unlicensed uses of their material, I would strongly advise against it; at least as long as the high-resolution version is only available from Getty Images. --Túrelio (talk) 15:19, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
 Comment Getty both has a fine collection of copyrighted images and is also rather notorious for committing copyfraud, falsely claiming they have the copyright of public domain works. If it can be proven that the higher resolution version is under the same license as the smaller version IMO that would likely be OK. (Yes, I see I'm giving the opposite opinion from @Túrelio: above - but if you can conclusively demonstrate that the media is PD and the copyright claim of Getty is false, it seems the law is on your side.) -- Infrogmation of New Orleans (talk) 15:52, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Cooper37: Hi, and welcome. It all depends on your tolerance for the legal risk involved. If in doubt, please consult a lawyer.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 16:23, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Since its quite clearly stated by Getty to be by Draper, that should be fine - but there is still the matter of the intrusive watermarks. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits17:59, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for the answers. I'll take this to meta:legal for confirmation. Since Getty is helpfully not claiming copyright in this case, I think the risk here is low. ("Getty Images provides access to this publicly distributed image for editorial purposes and is not the copyright owner.")

Cooper37 (talk) 22:19, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Non-free album covers made by English folk

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I've read the page on threshold of originality in the UK and want to make sure my assumptions are correct: is an extreme example of simplicity (no flak to ae, of course) like w:File:Autechre peel sessions 2.jpg protectible by copyright in the UK? In other words, considering the geographical origin of this work, would it be incorrect to assume that {{PD-simple}} can be slapped onto it and a vectorized version made and transfered to Commons? Autechre, who created the album the sleeve is for, hail from England and still reside there, if my memory serves me correctly. — rae5e <talk> 18:21, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

A white rectangle with one word? Probably {{Pd-text}}. Ruslik (talk) 19:14, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
UK's ToO has gone up due to a recent court decision to be more in line with the rest of Europe. Abzeronow (talk) 22:42, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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Hello,

I was working on a gallery, on my own talk or user page, and now I can no longer locate it. I assumed it would at least be available on my contributions page, but this is also not the case. Am I missing something obvious? 74.102.207.12821:58, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, did you create the page while you are logged in? Then you should able to see it in your contribution page after you have logged in. Tvpuppy (talk) 22:09, 24 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Alignment of text to the right does'nt work

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I'm a bit perplexed right now as to why the alignment of text to the right doesn't seem to work in this map. The texts concerned (as "Tanja", "Qurtuba", or "Mursiya") appear further to the left than they should. However, if I change the alignment to the left, I can see that the coordinates seem to be entered correctly.

File:Caliphate of Córdoba (1000).svg

Does anyone recognise what I am missing here? WikiForMen (talk) 00:04, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Copyrighted art or something else?

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File:The first Branch Rickey Award presented to Dave Winfield in 1992.jpg
The actual Branch Rickey Award, presented to Dave Winfield in 1992.

This is an award, the Branch Rickey Award. It's also a replica of a statue you can see in the foreground at File:Coors_Field_exterior_2022.jpg, by one Category:George Lundeen (he's very much alive). Is this pic allowed per Commons rulez? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 10:22, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång: No. I tagged File:The first Branch Rickey Award presented to Dave Winfield in 1992.jpg as a copyvio.   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 13:52, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Jeff G. Yeah, I thought so. Same goes for his busts at Nebraska Hall of Fame I guess? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 13:59, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Copyrighted art but just a little

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Coors Field

Followup on the above question. This photo of an American building has a modern (artist alive, etc) statue in the foreground, but it's not the point of the picture. Is there any written Commons guidance on this, or is "that's fine" common sense here? Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 14:38, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Gråbergs Gråa Sång There is a Common policy about this, see Commons:De minimis. As for the photo you mentioned, I think de minimis will apply here, so it should be fine. Tvpuppy (talk) 16:21, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Tvpuppy Thanks! Not a name you'd guess easily. Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 16:37, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
It is the normal legal term for this. - Jmabel ! talk17:56, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I got that. ;-) Gråbergs Gråa Sång (talk) 17:59, 25 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

PDF needs two pages swopping

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This file has two pages in the wrong order. Can someone with a pdf editor swop the pages please? RichFarmbrough, 21:30 25 April 2025 (GMT).

Copyright?

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I'm writing an English Wikipedia article about Dorfromantik: The Board Game, and I was wondering if I could use a picture of the box or some game components. If I take a picture of the board game's box, as well as some pictures of the components of the game, could I upload it to Commons to use in the article or would it be copyrighted? Chorchapu (talk) 00:07, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

What does make you think that there may be no copyrights on cover illustrations? Sculptural works on game pieces or artwork of a game board is also a creative work. So, no, you can't upload imagery of this kind to Commons, see Commons:Copyright rules by subject matter#Board games, directly below of that: COM:BOOK and COM:Derivative works. The English Wikipedia may allow something under their fair use prerogative. Regards, Grand-Duc (talk) 00:18, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Okay then, thank you. Chorchapu (talk) 00:22, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
[edit]

This is an advance question, because there's still one caveat (see below). I would want to extract the audio from this video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wKGzaCmazA – and upload it to Commons. It's a German composition (incl. lyrics) and music recording, and both are (most probably) public domain in Germany & the EU for the following reasons: (a) this adaptation of the composition incl. lyrics is from 1889, the composer died in 1921, while I still have to find the year of death for the lyricist, this currently being the only caveat; (b) the recording is (at the latest) from 1961, which is the earliest publication date I could find, i.e. the recording had definitely re-entered the public domain in 2011, because the protection of ancillary recording rights (Leistungsschutzrechte, master use) in Germany at that time was still restricted to 50 years after the recording date, i.e. too early for the extension to 70 years (EU copyright harmonization), which only came into effect later, and only for works/recordings still protected under the original 50-year rule on 1 November 2013. So, to make things short: if the lyricist year of death fits, which might be hard to find out, both the composition & the recording are public domain in Germany & the EU.

However, as far as I can gather, a file uploaded to Commons also needs to have a US public domain template, if it's a non-US work. Since US music/recording copyright rules are kinda all over the place, I'd like to know, which Commons tag/template, if any, would have to be used in this case. (tia) Rixkölln (talk) 09:37, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

@Rixkölln: Hi, and welcome. Do you have any biographical info about the lyricist so far?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 09:46, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The lyricist's name is Oskar Klein, who also worked as a librettist. There are a couple of Oskar Kleins, one of them a pseudonym of a writer, who died in the 1920s, but I think that's a different one. Let's say Klein was 19 years old at the time he wrote the lyrics and lived until the age of 90… then the work would still be under copyright protection until 2030, i.e. no upload. So it's definitely important. (And the US issue, too ofc.) Rixkölln (talk) 09:57, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
There's a "Klein, Oskar" here: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110311402.101/pdf?licenseType=restricted … quote: "death date unknown". Not sure if that's the one. Rixkölln (talk) 10:23, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
For the underlying work (composition), PD-old-assumed can be used, if a year of death is unknown, and PD-US-expired as the second template. However, the 1961 recording is a separate matter. 2A02:3032:360:D0C5:4C55:64DA:B41C:50AB11:17, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The recording by Willi Rose was never registered with the US Copyright Office. In the US records I could only find one recording of Der Rixdorfer or song with Rixdorf in the title, namely a later recording by James Last (1970s). For the EU template, you can use PD-EU-audio. As for the US, since it was never published there, it might not be necessary to add a US-specific template. (?) 80.151.146.15712:32, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Fiesta Records published the song in the US on this record: https://www.discogs.com/release/13141821-Willi-Rose-Prost-German-Beer-Drinking-Songs under license from Ariola Germany, without a copyright notice. But I don't think it needs to be registered with the copyright office to be protected under US copyright law. 2A02:3032:360:D0C5:4C55:64DA:B41C:50AB12:52, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Then the recording copyright for the US would be restored, because on the URAA date (1 Jan 1996) the recording was still copyrighted in Germany. Since the US does not follow the rule of the shorter term, the recording would imho not be eligible for upload on Wikimedia Commons before the year 2057 (publication date + 95 years) --- unless the Fiesta record was published within 30 days of the original German publication by Ariola. Then US rules apply for Wikimedia Commons, and since the Fiesta version of the album was published between 1930 and 1977 without a copyright notice/registration, it would be in the US public domain. But you would have to determine the exact publication dates for Germany and the US. 80.151.146.15713:52, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No, it doesn't look like the two albums were published close together. The original LP is Ariola's Wir versaufen unser' Oma ihr klein' Häuschen, which is from 1959, and the LP licensed to Fiesta Records in the US, which has the same track listing, but a different album title, is from 1962. So if the above information on the protection of foreign works in the US is correct (30 days publication rule), then this recording of "Der Rixdorfer", while public domain in the EU, is still protected until 2057. Bummer. Rixkölln (talk) 20:58, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Verwijderde bestanden

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File:Schiermonnikoog video.gif; van dit bestand kreeg ik de melding dat het verweijderd is.

De betreffende bestanden, zoals door mij geupload, zijn door mijzelf gemaakt. Als ondergrond is Openseamap gebruikt. (OSM - Data can be used freely under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.) Daarna heb ik zelf een grafisch beeld aangebracht zodat er een animatie ontstaat van de betreffende vuurtoren. Ik begrijp niet goed waarom dit bestand verwijderd is. Op geen enkele manier heb ik naar mijn mening inbreuk gedaan op enig copywrite. Als ik iets anders moet doen laat het mij weten want deze graphic geeft meer inzicht in de werking van deze vuurtoren. Dit geldt ook: File:Schiermonnikoog video.gif File:Inchkeith video.gif File:GirdleNess video.gif File:FifeNess video.gif File:Ardnamurchan video.gif File:Fidra video.gif BuchanNess video.gif File:CorranPoint video.gif File:Chanonry video.gif File:Turnberry video.gif BobSchrage (talk) 10:09, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Deleted files

File:Schiermonnikoog video.gif; I received the message that this file has been deleted.

The files in question, as uploaded by me, were created by myself. Openseamap was used as a background. (OSM - Data can be used freely under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.) Then I added a graphic image myself so that an animation of the lighthouse in question is created. I do not understand why this file was deleted. In my opinion I have not infringed on any copywrite in any way. If I need to do something else, please let me know because this graphic gives more insight into the operation of this lighthouse. This also applies:

translator: Google Translate via   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 11:03, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@BobSchrage: Hallo en welkom. Deze bestanden zijn verwijderd vanwege auteursrechtschendingen door beheerder Wdwd. Heb je aangegeven dat de achtergrond onder de licentie {{OpenStreetMap}} valt?

Hi, and welcome. These files were deleted as copyright violations by Admin Wdwd. Did you indicate that the background was licensed {{OpenStreetMap}}?   — 🇺🇦Jeff G. ツ please ping or talk to me🇺🇦 11:03, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
And now, what I have do to make it work, please help BobSchrage (talk) 11:42, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Jeff G. @BobSchrage I've replied at the undeletion request section: Commons:Undeletion requests/Current requests#File:Schiermonnikoog video.gif Tl;dr The background is Google Maps -- DaxServer (talk) 20:29, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, i have mentioned that. I go transformed all that to Openstreetmap the next few days, BobSchrage (talk) 21:22, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Album covers?

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I want to upload an image of a famous Indonesian singer in the 80s. Would it be permissible to upload photos of an album released in the 70s and 80s, or would it fall under copyright infringement? Said album is O.M. Awara Volume 7, released in 1979. To my knowledge the record company of this album has since been disbanded. There are some personal pictures taken of the singer at home or during events, but they are of lesser quality. Thanks in advance. WannzKaswan (talk) 11:23, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

See Com:Indonesia (assuming the album sleeve images were taken or made there), and ask again if you still have questions after that. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits18:52, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The disbanding of a company does not remove any work from copyright. All it does is make it very difficult to work out the current owner of the copyright, so it is much harder to get a valid permission. - Jmabel ! talk03:24, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

how can i upload a picture?

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picture of a person Mn-imhotep (talk) 13:10, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

how can i upload a picture from my Handy? please, descripe the steps — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mn-imhotep (talk • contribs) 13:24, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello and welcome @Mn-imhotep, check out COM:FS for a tutorial on how to upload pictures. Tvpuppy (talk) 13:32, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Why is so many pictures not loading

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This is very sensitive, in the gallery of new files, there are a large portion of pictures not showing ArtopiaBoy (talk) 15:02, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

welcome...
sir, mozilla firefox is good for that. try that. and also, wait 2-5 seconds before scrolling. modern_primatඞඞඞ ----TALK21:36, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Failed to upload new photo version

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Hello. To start the story from the beginning, I contacted someone who had photographed Adele in concert in Munich because I was interested in a photo. I asked her to send me the original picture with the metadata. I suggested using the email template for a declaration of consent or the Upload Wizard, whichever she would prefer. However, the photo she emailed me didn't have the metadata attached.

Meanwhile, I straightened this photo using Fotor software because it was leaning too far to the right, and I didn't want to bother her with that, so I did it myself.

She uploaded her photo using the Upload Wizard... except that this image has all its metadata: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adele_in_Munich,_Germany,_3_August_2024.jpg

I emailed her the first photo I had straightened and cropped and told her she could use it as a second version, which was my intention from the beginning. I thought everything would go well, except that the upload of this new version (the photo without the metadata) landed at a new address: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Adele_in_Munich_Germany_3_August_2024.jpg

Every time I straighten and slightly crop the original photo, all the metadata disappears, so I don't know how to do it. I think it doesn't overwrite the original file because of this. Oroborvs (talk) 15:23, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Oroborvs. Probably it is the editing software that’s removing the original metadata in order to add their own metadata. I think the current set up is fine, which you have the original image and the edited image as separate files. Tvpuppy (talk) 19:47, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@Tvpuppy: Yes, I could use different software each time it stripped the metadata. Indeed, the setup is good as it is; @Asclepias: helped, otherwise, I would still be here scratching my head. Thanks for the help.Oroborvs (talk) 20:33, 26 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Something is unjust

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Hey, I’m reaching out to ask if you could reconsider the block on my account. I’ve been using Wikipedia for a long time as a reader, and recently got really involved in the Teahouse to help out new users. I tried my best to offer useful advice, but I admit I made some mistakes along the way. I didn’t fully grasp how strict the protocols are, and in my excitement to help, I ended up stepping on a few toes. I know it may have seemed like I was just being egotistical or disruptive, but honestly, that wasn’t the case. I was just trying to contribute, and after getting positive feedback on my help, I was pretty frustrated when it felt like my efforts were dismissed. The comment I made about “Are you blind?” was definitely out of line, and I regret it—it was born from frustration, not malice. Looking back, I realize I should have been more patient and understanding. But the block feels like an overreaction. I didn’t get a clear warning or explanation on how I was supposed to improve, and I think it would’ve helped if there was a clearer way to know what was expected of me. I’m not asking to be let off without understanding what went wrong, but I’d really appreciate a second chance. I’ve put a lot of effort into my edits, and I genuinely want to learn from my mistakes. If I’m given the chance to come back, I’ll definitely be more thoughtful about how I approach things. Please consider giving me another shot—I’m here to help, and I think I can make a positive contribution to the community if I’m given the guidance I need. Thanks for your time. Best, IHitmanI (talk) 03:43, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello and welcome @IHitmanI. Not sure if you realised this, but this is the Help Desk for Wikimedia Commons, the image repository that works with other Wikimedia projects. I see that you have been blocked at English Wikipedia, but I’m afraid there isn’t much we can do here regarding your block.
Also, it is only a 3-month block, so you are given “the chance to come back”. I will just advise you to take this as a learning opportunity, follow the advice given to you by other contributors, and make sure after 3 months you don’t repeat the same behaviour you did previously. Best of luck to you. Tvpuppy (talk) 05:04, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks Tvpuppy, you are only admin i have ever met seems human to me. you are right it is 3 months which seems easy for you to say but i was blocked without any harmdoing or not even close to it, but just for making my point. You know i thought Wikipedia was those place where we are free to share and help, with smiles but well as you can see. I have tried to learn and learnt but Wikipedia seems more of a strict place, I am sorry, this is not my place si.
It was good stay, I atleast got opportunity to edit some good article.
Same message as in Wikipedia:
My friend once told me: Fuck it if it does not respect your contributions. And this admin BS on Wikipedia is kind of famous on the internet. I thought, combining some wasted hours on no work, I could use it on Wikipedia. But it is literally garbage, filled with admins who are trying to label you as a terrorist. Seems like the block button feels smooth for you people. Your guidelines say consensus over disputes, but your admins throw a few words and then block me, even though I genuinely helped with a smile.
You think you are the next Einstein, the way you messaged me, but it does not make any point.
1. Haha! The image is not any vendetta; it is basically an irony — it means that even though the image says something about helping editors, it literally blocks them.
2. I never really understood why I was blocked, seriously.
3. You do not need to "make it clear" because I understand the wiki admin system very clearly now. It is very depressing, filled with BS, bureaucracy admired, unnecessarily strict, pack-rat for their useless articles.
4. It would be a strict "no" for me to the person who thinks Wikipedia is best for editing, or is willing to sacrifice both his life and mental health.
I thought to help Wikipedia, but it is really frustrating and filled with a stupid environment. Really not for educational edits.
Here I am giving my account, do what you can with it, I do not care.
Username = IHitmanI
Password =
I am not kidding; this account belongs to Wikipedia now, it is not mine.
Thank you.IHitmanI (talk) 07:15, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
@IHitmanI: I can see your intentions are good, but I can also see why you are blocked.
Please do not further import "drama" from the English-language Wikipedia to Commons. If you continue to do that, we will have to block you there as well.
If you want to protest your block on the English-language Wikipedia, the only appropriate place to do that is your user talk page on the English-language Wikipedia. I would suggest, however, that you just wait out the three-month block.
If you want to participate in Commons, in a manner appropriate to Commons, feel free to do so.
Please do not make another lengthy reply here on this Commons page. If you want to write a sentence or two acknowledging that you've seen this, fine, but that's it. - Jmabel ! talk15:42, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Using a photo of A Notable Family Member

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My wife is executor of the estate of her late mother who was a well known actress. We would like to replace a few photos that were posted on her Wikipedia page by unknown people. Some of our pics are personal shots. Some are her publicity "head shots" photos (which she may have paid to have taken). Others are "stills" from film,TV and stage work that we presume are in the public domain since they are easily available in many places on the web— but don't know how to verify. Would someone kindly let us know if it is possible and how we should correctly notate our material? Thanks for your help. Asticou (talk) 05:07, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. @Asticou: I'm sorry for your family's loss. As you may have seen, media uploaded to the Wikimedia Commons needs to be either public domain (lack of copyright) or released under a free license. There are two ways the estate could provide photos for Commons:
  • The estate owns the copyright to the photos, and is willing to freely license the photos.
  • The copyright of the photos (or stills) has expired and fallen into the public domain. This can depend on a handful of factors (publication date, copyright registration and renewal, etc.).
I'll touch on copyright ownership first, followed by public domain.
Generally, whoever takes a photo owns the copyright to that photo, unless the copyright has expired or the photographer has explicitly transfered the copyright to someone else. For the personal photos you mention, if those photographers are willing, they could upload their photos themselves and release them under a free license.
For the works-for-hire, that all depends on the terms of the hiring. Generally, for the estate to own photos from publicity shots and the like, the terms of the hiring need to explicitly mention that copyright is owned by the client. Unless we have the details and terms of the hiring, those likely wouldn't work out.
Regarding public domain, note that just because something is widely available online does not necessarily indicate that it's in the public domain. The copyright expiration of photos, films, etc. depends on when, where, and how they were published -- and copyright expiration can vary quite a bit by country. You can explore copyright rules by territoy here, and (as an example) see U.S. copyright expiry rules here. In the U.S., anything published before 1930 is considered public domain. From 1930 through 1989, whether or not a work is public domain depends on when the work was published (that's published, not created); whether the work was published with a copyright notice; whether it was registered with the copyright office; and/or whether the copyright was renewed. More contemporary works would be considered copyrighted. Note that, since the Wikimedia Commons is hosted in the United States, we generally only host public domain works if they are considered public domain in both the United States and in the source country of the work.
If you've reviewed the copyright expiration rules and have any works that you believe are in the public domain, then we could potentially host them. Let us know if that's the case, or if you need help determining that.
If you believe the estate does own the copyright to any photos and would like to release them, then the estate would likely need to correspond with the Volunteer Response Team to provide evidence that the estate owns the copyright and is willing to freely license.
I know this is a lot of info, but I hope it's helpful. Let us know if you have any additional questions. ~Kevin Payravi(talk)06:25, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
There is a third way, which is to obtain a license from the copyright owner.
As far as I know, our most comprehensive discussion of how to proceed for third-party materials that you want to use on Commons is Commons:Uploading works by a third party. - Jmabel ! talk15:44, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Subcategory not shown in parent category

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Hey! I have created Category:Public transport in Guatemala a few days back, but for some reason Category:Air transport in Guatemala refuses to show up.

On the page of Air transport in Guatemala, it indicates it is part of that parent category, so I really don't know what's at play here? The parent categories are set by a template, but similar Category:Air transport in El Salvador it works without issues. Does anybody know what's the deal here? Thank you, any help is greatly appreciated! Kind regards, Fallen Sheep (talk) 11:37, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Hello @Fallen Sheep. I see that the category is showing up now. This is a common problem which the parent category doesn’t update when it is added through a template. To fix this, you just have to purge or make a null edit (submit edit without editing anything) in the subcategory page once, then it should be fine. Tvpuppy (talk) 15:13, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Thank you, dear @Tvpuppy, for the explanation!
Resolved
I think that this question was replied to adequately based on the supplied information. If you have anything to add or a follow-up question please feel free to replace this box with your comment. This section will be archived after two days. Fallen Sheep (talk) 15:25, 27 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]
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