(in editing stage)
Hello XXXXXXXXX,
I am writing to you to request a publicity photo to illustrate an article about XXXXXX that I am writing for Wikipedia.
As an example of what I need, I wrote an article about the bluegrass band, The Cherryholmes. On their official website http://www.cherryholmes.net/press.htm the Cherryholmes offer several images that are available for journalists to use freely to illustrate articles, both in print and on the internet.
The most important thing is that I need photographs that the Davenport Hotel owns the copyright to, photographs that have been released by the photographer. Do you have any photographs that were shot specifically for publicity that I could use? It would also be great if you include the name of the photographer even if you do own the copyright. If you have any questions about what I can use please contact me.
You can attach images to an email or send them to my office - I would be happy to scan an image.
If you are not familiar with Wikipedia, it is a free Internet encyclopedia with no advertising. It is quickly becoming the first stop for anyone researching a subject on the Internet. I love local history. I am aware of the importance of the Davenport Hotel to Spokane so I am the one who started the entry on Wikipedia and I am eager to expand on it.
Thank you for your time in considering this request.
Sincerely, xxxxxx
Hello XXXX,
I am writing to you on behalf of the multilingual Wikipedia project <http://www.wikipedia.org/>, a project to create a complete, accurate, and open-content encyclopedia. I am one of the many volunteer editors.
I am editing an article about XXXXXX. I am respectfully requesting your permission use a low resolution copy of XXXXXXXX to include in the article. Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia and therefore can use images in the United States under the "fair use" clause in copyright laws. We would much rather prefer getting permission and crediting the photographer. And include links to both the photographer and the subject.
If you allow Wikipedia to use the image you can be assured:
- The photographer retains the copyright.
- We can use a low-resolution copy only (which would be useless as a source to make illegal prints of the image). Note this is a boilerplate for a promotional image not for a work of art or photograph that I would request at the highest resolution - that would be a different letter.
What we need from you:
- A release from the photographer to either put the image in the public domain or license it under the gnul or cc (explain, give example)
- Permission from you to copy and paste my email correspondance with you as part of the documentation to the image (I would paste your response and name (as the contact for this image) in the image description but not your email address, give example)
Thank you for your time and consideration.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely, <real name>
I am an editor of the Wikipedia, a multilingual project to create a complete and accurate open content encyclopedia.
an endeavour to build a fully-fledged multilingual encyclopaedia in an entirely open manner, to ask for permission to use your copyrighted material.
I am an editor of the Wikipedia (wikipedia.org), a multilingual project to create a complete, accurate, and open-content encyclopedia.
I am one of the many volunteer editors of Wikipedia (wikipedia.org), a Web-based collaboration.
I respectfully request your permission to use your excellent <drawing/image/art/photograph/whatever>, <attached, or at your website, <add link here>>, as Wikipedia content. Wikipedia is a complete, open-content, multilingual encyclopedia, that strives for reliable content. Volunteers from around the world collaboratively create content, but Wikipedia depends upon <article/photography/art/diagram/chart>, such as yours, to clearly illustrate that content.
However, we can only use your material if you are willing to grant permission for it to be used under terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (GNU-FDL, or GFDL for short).
If you do agree to grant permission for use, we will credit you for your work, stating it was based on your work and is used with your permission, and by providing a link back to your website.
We would like your permission to include resources created by your organization in our encyclopedia. Specifically, we are interested in copying <TITLE>, accessible at <URL>. In order for us to do so, it would be necessary for you to license your work under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL), which was designed by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) for free works. You can find the license text at
Your organisation has on its website content which would undoubtedly enhance
communication with our target audience; in order to do so, I should like to ask for your authorisation to use such content, namely the [photograph|illustration|etc] located at [URL], under the terms of Wikipedia's licence.
Wikipedia licenses all its content under the licence developed for purposes of free
documentation by the Free Software Foundation, the text of which can be found at <http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html>. It should be borne in mind that if you choose to allow Wikipedia to use the stated [photograph|illustration|etc], it will remain copyrighted to you; however, the said licence stipulates that third parties must be permitted to reuse the licensed work so long that they retain the licence of this work and any derivatives from it. Consequently, you may wish to consider carefully whether you are prepared to compromise some of your rights granted to you by copyright law by licensing your work as suggested. That said, allow me to reiterate that your material will be used to the noble end of providing a free collection of knowledge for everyone; naturally enough, only if you agree. If that is the case, could you kindly fill in the attached form and post it to [where?]? We shall greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely, <real name>