Commons:Deletion requests/File:Check used in Internet scam with victims name removed.JPG

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Revision as of 11:30, 16 March 2013
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::::And the red-blue backing pattern is some kind of security code, invisible to the photo, but which someone can check perhaps by holding the check up to a light source.--[[User:Tomwsulcer|Tomwsulcer]] ([[User talk:Tomwsulcer|talk]]) 20:43, 15 March 2013 (UTC)
 
::::And the red-blue backing pattern is some kind of security code, invisible to the photo, but which someone can check perhaps by holding the check up to a light source.--[[User:Tomwsulcer|Tomwsulcer]] ([[User talk:Tomwsulcer|talk]]) 20:43, 15 March 2013 (UTC)
 
:::::I photograph buildings, which are copyrightable but can be photographed under US law. When I do, the photograph is my "own work", regardless of the status of the building (most old one are in the public domain). If the fake check Tom shot was not copyrightable -- and I don't think it was, for the reasons I gave above -- than the photograph of it is indeed his "own work", as much as if he shot a picture of a fire hydrant or an ant. Therefore his license was correct.

As for the underlying issue, the design aspects of the check do not, in my opinion, rise to the level of copyrightable artwork. There may be a trademark issue with the "Citibank" writing, but not a copyright one, since it is just lettering, and not distinctive enough in design to be copyrighted.

Tom, one thing you should consider is that as you remove more and more elements of the check - signature, routing number, etc. - it probably starts to get to the point where it's debatable whether having it in the repository serves any educational or encyclopedic purpose. I'd say that's a judgment call for you to make, at first, although others will no doubt weigh in later. At this point, though, unless someone can make a stronger counter-argument, I don't think there are any copyright concerns about the image. [[User:Beyond My Ken|Beyond My Ken]] ([[User talk:Beyond My Ken|talk]]) 03:02, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 
:::::I photograph buildings, which are copyrightable but can be photographed under US law. When I do, the photograph is my "own work", regardless of the status of the building (most old one are in the public domain). If the fake check Tom shot was not copyrightable -- and I don't think it was, for the reasons I gave above -- than the photograph of it is indeed his "own work", as much as if he shot a picture of a fire hydrant or an ant. Therefore his license was correct.

As for the underlying issue, the design aspects of the check do not, in my opinion, rise to the level of copyrightable artwork. There may be a trademark issue with the "Citibank" writing, but not a copyright one, since it is just lettering, and not distinctive enough in design to be copyrighted.

Tom, one thing you should consider is that as you remove more and more elements of the check - signature, routing number, etc. - it probably starts to get to the point where it's debatable whether having it in the repository serves any educational or encyclopedic purpose. I'd say that's a judgment call for you to make, at first, although others will no doubt weigh in later. At this point, though, unless someone can make a stronger counter-argument, I don't think there are any copyright concerns about the image. [[User:Beyond My Ken|Beyond My Ken]] ([[User talk:Beyond My Ken|talk]]) 03:02, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 
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*{{vk}} Yes BMK you persuaded me; I had been on the fence but I think you're right although when it comes to issues such as copyrights and trademarks, my sense it is complex and I will probably never know all the ins and outs. About the issue of how much information to scrub off the check -- yes, it is possible I am deleting too much, but I think the image is still usable. I had been hoping to use the photo for the Wikipedia article "Confidence trick" but there may be other places where a check image could be used, particularly if there are not many such images in the Commons to begin with.--[[User:Tomwsulcer|Tomwsulcer]] ([[User talk:Tomwsulcer|talk]]) 11:30, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Commons:Deletion_requests/File:Check_used_in_Internet_scam_with_victims_name_removed.JPG&diff=92674407&oldid=92656180