Commons talk:Overwriting existing files/Requests

This new policy is atrocious

When was this policy approved and where is the discussion on it? Putting a ton of work on to administrators to approve edit requests is the complete antithesis of Wikimedia policy. I've been on Wikipedia for 10+ years and I've never seen such an awful policy. Ergzay (talk) 01:16, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

I believe it was discussed at VPP. I don't mind the little bit of extra work, and overwriting was a problem area where policy was being ignored. Abzeronow (talk) 16:02, 4 November 2023 (UTC)

I too find this new policy highly disruptive and insulting. I can no longer update charts (e.g. File:Standard Model of Elementary Particles.svg) after I have done so for over 10 years. What is VPP ? Cush (talk) 18:03, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

Commons:Village pump/Proposals which is abbreviated as COM:VPP. You can also request the autopatrol right at COM:RFR. Abzeronow (talk) 18:09, 21 December 2023 (UTC)

Was this policy discussed anywhere? And is an archive of this discussion available? I agree that it completely goes against basic wiki philosophy where the idea is that you do _not_ have to email an editor in chief to make a correction --Taktaal (talk) 11:07, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

It was discussed at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Village_pump/Proposals/Archive/2023/08#Limit_file_overwriting_to_users_with_autopatrol_rights and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Village_pump/Proposals/Archive/2024/02#Revert_policy_change_for_%22Overwriting_existing_files%22 and elsewhere. Files are not wiki pages, and so overwriting is a last resort, since overwriting is a destructive act. Abzeronow (talk) 16:48, 25 May 2024 (UTC)

I'm confused. I don't want a new hobby, I just want to propose an update to one file.

I'm confused, how do I proceed. I downloaded a CC0 SVG from Wikimedia Commons that I was planning to use for my own purposes (as allowed by CC0) and noticed that:

• Inkscape file format had been updated, and Inkscape kindly updated the file format for me.
• The file did not include any metadata which is now easily editable in the current version of Inkscape.

As such I copied the metadata from Wikimedia Commons into the file's internal metadata and thought that other users would appreciate the update, which I noticed appeared to agree with the file update policy, so I attempted to upload it:

• I discover I have no track record of modifying uploaded files, and I'm not the original creator, so I need to request an exception for this particular file?
• Ok... easy peasy. I click the link and:
• I'm told I don't have autopatrol user right to request to update a file... or something like that.

I have enough to do, without wanting to become a Wikimedia editor. Can't I just say, "Here's the modified file... use it if you want to"?

Being a good citizen, I'm writing this instead of simply giving up. Here's the file I'm willing to update. File:English pattern playing cards deck PLUS.svg There are two changes to the file:

• Inkscape updated the file format for me.
• I added the following metadata to the file:
  • Title
  • Date
  • Creator
  • Rights
  • Publisher
  • Source
  • Language
  • Description
• I did not update the file data content in any way. As this is an SVG file, there should be no compression artifacts; This is a file format and metadata change only.

Do you want this updated file or not? I didn't add myself as a contributor, as I only copied and pasted data from Wikimedia Commons to the file and contributed none of my own work. How am I supposed to proceed. As a casual Wikimedia Commons user I'm totally stumpped. Linux dr (talk) 00:05, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

See also Commons:Help desk#I'm confused. I don't want a new hobby, I just want to propose an update to one file. -- Asclepias (talk) 14:13, 24 February 2024 (UTC)

Plase banned user:20021Apple

he vandalized the entire Wikimedia commons Desta231206 (talk) 06:43, 29 May 2024 (UTC)

Request without reply

As an editor on dewiki who is only occasionally active here on Commons, I sometimes correct imperfections in pictures such as unintentional camera tilt or perspective distortions, and replace the original image by the corrected version. I have also been doing this on at least one occasion after the policy for overwriting images was changed [1][2].

However, my most recent request for a right to overwrite [3] was simply left untreated without reply, and has now been archived.

Are corrections of this type generally unwanted? Why was my request apparently not even deemed worth answering?

--Yen Zotto (talk) 19:55, 7 June 2024 (UTC)

I did see your request. I probably was going to say that I'd be inclined against it since correcting the church would have made other things in the photograph off center like the street and the person in the street, but I might have been sidetracked and unfortunately forgot to reply. Abzeronow (talk) 20:13, 7 June 2024 (UTC)

I see. Well, thank you for at least replying now. --Yen Zotto (talk) 21:14, 7 June 2024 (UTC)