Wikipedia:VRT noticeboard

Welcome to the VRT noticeboard

Wikimedia's volunteer response team (VRT) handles copyright permissions, email inquiries from the public, reuse inquiries, article errors, and a wide range of non-public inquiries. The email service is operated and managed by a cross-project team of volunteers at the Meta-Wiki level and not by the English Wikipedia community. Actions by VRT members on English Wikipedia are ultimately subject to review by the Arbitration Committee. Please be aware that there is sometimes a backlog in processing tickets sent to the permissions-en queue. This backlog is currently 0 days. This noticeboard is primarily for Permissions verification and inquiries for text and files (hosted on the English Wikipedia) said to have been granted permission via VRTS. Requests for VRT member review of matters that have been described as VRT comments or actions. Other inquiries to VRT members that do not involve, disclose or reference private material. Do not post Private information or links to private information (including but not limited to emails, phone numbers, physical addresses). Fishing requests (asking for all details of a ticket or generally probing ticket information). You should make a specific request and clearly state the reason for your request. Additional questions on a point, once a VRT member has indicated they cannot answer due to privacy issues. (Further inquiries and any complaints should be made via email.) Requests for VRTS access (use meta:VRT/Volunteering instead). Questions regarding media hosted on Wikimedia Commons (use Commons:Volunteer Response Team/Noticeboard instead). Media questions unrelated to VRT (use Wikipedia:Media copyright questions instead). Disputes For disputes over VRT actions on English Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Volunteer Response Team § Dispute resolution and Wikipedia:Dispute resolution § Sensitive issues and functionary actions. Useful VRT email addresses Removal of private or defamatory information Requests for oversight or oversight-en-wpwikipedia.org Submission of photos to be used in a Wikipedia article photosubmissionwikimedia.org Follow the instructions here Confirmation of copyright permission permissions-enwikimedia.org Follow the format given here Reports of threatened harm to self or others emergencywikimedia.org Guidance: Wikipedia:Responding to threats of harm Reports of child pornography legal-reportswikimedia.org See Wikimedia Legal Policies Issues with an article about you or your organization info-en-qwikimedia.org Guidance: Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons/Help Any other inquiries involving private information info-enwikimedia.org

File:TMBG 2024.jpg

Could a VRT member take a look at File:TMBG 2024.jpg and assess whether it needs VRT verification? The source provided for the file seems legitimate, but it doesn't specifically say which CC license the file is release under and the "2024 wikipedia photo, etc." might not be specific enough to ensure the intent was to allow commercial and derivative reuse as well. -- Marchjuly (talk) 01:17, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

@Marchjuly: "Feel free to use on Wikipedia" is not a legitimate permission. It needs a VRT release. _Regards, Aafi ^(talk) 10:29, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

I'm not super familiar with Tumblr, is there any way to just check the status? I don't think the Johns would lie about this, but they might be big big fake fake lies. Just Step Sideways ^{from this world ..... today} 19:22, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

I don't think anyone is lying. It's just the "release" doesn't seem specific enough (at least to me). The copyright holder most likely gave their OK to use the image on "Wikipedia, etc.", but I whether they understand the license being used allows commercial and derivative re-use is unclear. If, for example, the copyright holder clearly stated that the photo was released under "CC-by-2.0 license for Wikipedia, etc.", then it can be reasonably assumed that the copyright holder understands what that entails and is OK with it. Sometimes, though, I think people just ask copyright holders "Can I use your photo on Wikipedia?" without explaining what WP:CONSENT means. In such cases, I think VRT verification is probably a good idea. -- Marchjuly (talk) 21:57, 18 October 2024 (UTC)

"Ok to use on Wikipedia" is considered under "fair-use provision" - but fair use doesn't work here. I agree with @Marchjuly in their above comment. The release is just not adequate and a VRT permission release is the right way ahead. _Regards, Aafi ^(talk) 07:13, 19 October 2024 (UTC)

Unblock request by M66JX

Bringing the unblock request at User talk:M66JX to this board's attention--a previous unblock request was declined as stale, and this one has now sat open for a month. The block log cites a VRT ticket, which I expect contains evidence of paid editing, but I would appreciate if a VRT member could confirm and respond to the unblock request appropriately. _signed, Rosguill ^talk 19:41, 29 October 2024 (UTC)