Category talk:Uffizi Gallery

Oppose

1. "Galleria degli Uffizi" is the complete name. It is like renaming "National Gallery" into "National" or "Britsh Museum" into "British". It is true that in common parlance you can say "I went to the British/to the Uffizi" yesterday", but this is an encyclopedia.
2. Second and even more important question, "Uffizi" is the name of the building, the "Gallery of the Uffizi" being the gallery housed in this building. The same difference among "Palazzo Ducale" and "Galleria di Palazzo Ducale" in Venice, and countless other examples: they are different things. --G.dallorto 14:40, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

Ack Giovanni. Jastrow (Λέγετε) 17:42, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

I just created separate gallery pages for the two to avoid confusion in the future. --G.dallorto 12:01, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

interior images of Florence buildings

There has been some disagreement whether interior images of the Uffizi are allowed or not. I have been there two days ago and it clearly was forbidden by signs and again when I asked the guides. None of the tourists inside were seen taking any photographs of the interior.

Now before everyone gets up in arms about it, I sent an email asking the Uffizi again for confirmation about this and since when this policy is in force. The prohibition of interior photos applies to various other buildings and churches in Florence as well. Gryffindor 11:46, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Actually, nobody disputes whether photos are allowed to be taken. That's not the issue. The issue is whether photos taken can be taken or released under a free license. --Rob 14:21, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

I cannot say more about this issue until they respond about this. Until then, no uploads of interior images please or removal of the warning. Gryffindor 14:41, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Thing is commons doesn't care what the rules are. It is posible under some legal systems and conditions the upload might but that isn't our problem.Geni 16:51, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Please see Commons:Image_casebook#Museum_photography for current policy. Usually I think museums have no implicit right to control copyright like that, unless Italy's laws are different. If the photographer is OK with uploading them despite the house rules, we generally accept them. Obviously, if they show copyrighted works in a location where freedom of panorama does not apply, that would be different. Carl Lindberg 16:06, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Agreed. This has long been the rule here, as our help pages make clear. I doubt there would be much support to change that, as it has been the subject of extensive discussions in the past. --MichaelMaggs 17:22, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

I have removed the 'under discussion' tag on the Category page, as it misleadingly suggests there may be a problem with the images. I suggest that further discussion should be posted at COM:VP#Edit war and admin protection on museum dispute where more people will see it. --MichaelMaggs 17:29, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Italy has unorthodox (compared to the Berne Convention, that is) copyright laws that allow the Soprintendenza dei Beni Culturali to claim copyright over (or at least, control access to) PD works. The Italian Wikimedia chapter has been working on this issue since several months. It is most unfortunate that Gryffindor made a separate contact. Jastrow (Λέγετε) 18:24, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

I have written a very general email to clarify what the general situation is, obviously not referring to the Commons. My interest is to protect the Commons from any possible trouble it could encounter and pre-empt situations. I still think that this is an issue that needs to be properly addressed, if however the general consensus is to let the Italian museums "bring it on", then I won't stand in the way obviously. Gryffindor 06:30, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

I understand that rationale, but this is why we have a legal team. I think the Foundation would let us know if we were running an illegal operation here. :) Outside of U.S. law, it comes down to what we as a community want. Maybe this could be a guideline in the future if it gets enough support, but I don't think saying we have to because the museums don't like it is a good way to get that support. Rocket000 15:00, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

interior images policy

I have now received a reply from the museums. Since it is the opinion of the majority of Commons users to pass this issue between the photographer and the museums, I am posting their reply purely for informative measure for users, maybe the legal team might also want to take a look at this should the need arise.

"....in general italian museums don't allow to take photos inside. Director can allow that but you need to ask before by mail. Churches are different from museums, afoten you can take photos without problems. Anyway for keep more information about National Museums in Florence (Palazzo Pitti, Galleria dell'Accademia, Uffizi, Bargello, Museo di San Marco, etc.) please write to this address: uffpermessi@polomuseale.firenze.it best regards toscanamusei@regione.toscana.it"

"....in the Uffizi Gallery and in all statal museum (Palazzo Pitti included) is possible to take photo only on monday when the museum is closed. This policy has been in force from 2000. I send you attached the form to fill to ask permission to photograph . Best regards

Ufficio Permessi"

Gryffindor 10:22, 13 May 2008 (UTC)