Wikimedia citations/attribution

By Anonymous on Mon, 04/29/2013 - 17:23

Forums

I maybe making a mountain out of a mole hill but, I want to use a map of the German Empire found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:German_Reich1.png

The part I am having some trouble with is the attribution portion of the copyright section and the share alike if I choose to modify the image. Would the attribution be placed under the image for example Map courtsey of .... with a citation to the web page or would the attribution be placed in the citation?

If I choose to alter the original image I am assuming that an attribution is not required but a citation is.

Any insight or help figuring out the legalize of the licence information is most appreciated.

Thank you,

Ann Gilchrest

Submitted byEEon Mon, 04/29/2013 - 20:11

Ann,

With regard to whether an attribution or citation should appear on an image that one has copied from elsewhere: EE's recommendation is this:

2.46 Source Labels
Full citations should appear on every [imaged] document. . . . To avoid altering the face of a phoocopy, some researchers place the source label on the blank back side. As that [image] goes into circulation, however, the inevitable happens: someone in the circulation chain fails to copy the reverse of the record. Thereafter, others have a document with no identification.

The modern practice is to [affix] the citation into the margin of the [image]'s face, using the full Reference Note format. If an adequate margin does not exist, we can use [the] reduction feature ... in our image editing software, along with a tool that allows us to type a source label into the margin of the scan.

Regarding your last paragraph: EE has no attorney on staff and should not even begin to venture an opinion about "the legalese of the licence information."  The best place to ask this query would be the blog of Judy G. Russell, J.D., The Legal Genealogist.