By Wanderingnomad, November 2005
(This is a translation from this original opinion)
Since September 14, 2005, the Louvre museum has gradually prohibited the photography of it’s collections. For the moment, it effects only the Apollon gallery, the first part of the Denon wing and the area exposed to the Victoire de Samothrace, but prohibition will gradually be extended to the entire museum. According to information on the museum’s website and the information panels in the museum, photographs of the Louvre’s collections are available on the aforementioned website, and it is unnecessary for visitors to take photographs. A major problem with this charge is that these photographs were taken by photographers of the Louvre, and are thus subjected to royalty charges. A person, then, cannot make use of the photographs (except for private reasons) without an authorization of the Louvre which, as will be made clear, it seems unrealistic to require.
I intended to speak about this prohibition for the first time in June 2005 when I was prohibited from taking photographs in the museum. The guards said to me approximately "…and still, you may still take photographs: but in September that will be completely prohibited, in any case."
I was revolted by this news at the time, and I started a page(under-page of my personal page on wp:fr) to speak about it. The history started a certain number of comments. I also contacted representatives of the Louvre and Meeting of the National Museums, which manages this type of question. One refused to meet me, and the other started to ask me questions about the photographs which were reproduced on the various projects Wikimedia (especially stereotypes of the pyramid).
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According to some, the purpose of prohibition to photograph would be to preserve the exclusiveness of collection photographs in the Louvre. Others see the consequence of the action as the increase in patronage to the museum (which went from 3 million visitors in 1993 to 7 million in 2004, according to The World). The official statement said that the visitors taking photographs obstructed circulation in the museum. Difficult to know the real reason.
However, what appears clear is that this prohibition soundly blocks access to this single inheritance, which should belong to all humanity, by using only the Louvre, its website, CD-Romanian, the postcards or the books which it publishes. In other words, the collections of the Louvre will be henceforth accessible only through one exclusive filter. No other person, institution, company, or association will be able to show images of the Louvre’s collections without authorization, which includes Wikipedia.
I do not think the culture, which is the entire reason of a museum, herein benefits in the slightest.