Justification for Non-Free Use

I am contesting the proposed deletion of this image and providing a detailed explanation of its importance to the associated article.

This image is an essential visual representation of the character as uniquely portrayed in The Sopranos. It captures specific aspects of the character's appearance, demeanor, and context that are integral to understanding their role and significance within the series. These nuances—such as facial expressions, attire, and setting—are vital for conveying the character's personality and thematic relevance, which cannot be adequately expressed through text alone or replaced by any free equivalent. The portrayal is intrinsically linked to the actor's performance and the creative elements of the show, making the image irreplaceable for encyclopedic purposes.

Moreover, I have observed a concerning pattern where another user is targeting images I have uploaded, proposing their deletion, and suggesting replacements with images they have personally uploaded. This behavior raises potential issues of conflict of interest and may not align with Wikipedia's principles of neutrality and collaborative editing. The proposed replacement images do not offer the same level of context or significance and may not meet the non-free content criteria themselves. This pattern suggests that the actions may be driven by personal motives rather than the best interests of the encyclopedia.

Maintaining this image is crucial for preserving the quality and completeness of the article. It ensures that readers receive an accurate and comprehensive representation of the character, which is essential for their understanding and appreciation of the series. The use of this image adheres to Wikipedia's non-free content policy, as it serves an important educational purpose, cannot be replaced by a free equivalent, and is used in a manner that respects the guidelines for non-free content. The image is used solely within the relevant article and is of appropriate resolution to fulfill its encyclopedic function without infringing on the original work's market value.

I am committed to upholding Wikipedia's standards and policies and am open to discussing any concerns further. My goal is to collaborate constructively to enhance the encyclopedia while ensuring that all actions serve the best interests of its content and users. If there are specific issues with the image that need to be addressed, I am willing to work together to find a suitable resolution.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, LJF2019 talk 05:53, 30 September 2024 (UTC)

All of the images for which I proposed deletion and all of the proposed replacements I uploaded are from The Sopranos. If there is an advantage to using the non-free images over the freely licensed YouTube screenshots, I don't think it's enough to meet WP:NFCC#8.
No specific uploader was targeted. All but one of the images in The Sopranos' character articles happen to have been uploaded by the same user, with File:Christopher Moltisanti.jpg (also proposed for deletion) being the exception. hinnk (talk) 07:00, 30 September 2024 (UTC)
Your use of the NFCC template to tag my non-free images as “replaceable” while directly linking to your own uploads isn’t about policy—it’s about control. The policy under NFCC #1 is very clear: a non-free image should only be replaced if a free equivalent exists that serves the same encyclopedic purpose. Just being “free” doesn’t automatically make it a suitable replacement. The images I uploaded are only used in the infoboxes of the character articles and were chosen because they provide essential visual context for the characters that generic YouTube screenshots cannot replicate. Your replacements lack the same quality and context—they are lower-resolution, less expressive, and lack the visual coherence needed for a proper infobox image.
The very core of NFCC #8 is that non-free content should be used when it “significantly enhances readers' understanding” and its absence would be detrimental. The images I’ve provided portray the characters in a way that best represents them, showing how they’re perceived in the show’s narrative and by its viewers. Your YouTube screenshots, by contrast, seemed to be are poorly timed and taken from random frames that don’t add value or communicate the characters’ significance. Swapping these in would degrade the articles’ quality and hinder the reader’s comprehension of these characters.
Wikipedia explicitly prohibits editors from exerting control over content to the point where they prioritize their own contributions over collaborative editing. By tagging my images as replaceable and then suggesting your own as the “solution,” you’ve essentially positioned yourself as the gatekeeper of what should or shouldn’t be used in these articles. This is a textbook case of content ownership, where you’re attempting to dominate the visual representation of these characters by pushing out content that doesn’t have your name attached to it.
You claim no specific uploader was targeted, but your actions show otherwise. You’ve systematically gone through and tagged almost every image I uploaded, even if they meet NFCC criteria, and tried to push in your own. That’s not neutral editing behavior; that’s curating content to highlight your contributions. The Ownership of Content policy is clear: no single editor should have undue influence over a page’s content, and behavior like yours—repeatedly pushing your own contributions while removing valid, policy-compliant content—creates an editing environment that discourages genuine collaboration.
Wikipedia also highlights that editors shouldn’t treat content disputes as competitions. Your repeated attempts to delete my contributions and swap them with your low-quality images have not been made in the spirit of consensus or improving content. You’re replacing high-quality, contextually significant images with subpar, low-effort screenshots simply to have your uploads dominate the visual landscape of these articles.
NFCC #3 (“Minimal use”) and #10c (“Previous publication”) further reinforce the inadequacy of your replacements. NFCC #3 emphasizes that non-free content should only be used minimally and in a way that doesn’t clutter or dilute an article’s visual coherence. My images are used in the infoboxes—one per article—providing a clear and recognizable depiction of the characters. Your replacements, on the other hand, degrade the articles with inferior quality and irrelevant context, making the character depictions inconsistent and less effective.
NFCC #10c states that any non-free content used must have been previously published. The images I’ve uploaded come directly from professionally produced episodes of The Sopranos, while your YouTube screenshots lack this level of clarity and often distort the original framing and lighting of the scenes. Simply being “from The Sopranos” doesn’t make them equivalent—they need to be contextually aligned and of equivalent visual quality.
It’s also worth noting that the images I’ve uploaded have been used in these articles’ infoboxes for years without issue. It’s unclear why you’re suddenly targeting every single one, especially considering the drastic downgrade your suggested replacements would bring. If these images have served the articles well and met policy standards all this time, what’s changed? The only thing that’s different is your desire to insert your own contributions, which clearly undermines the collaborative spirit Wikipedia is built on.
At this point, your argument is not about policy adherence but about exerting control. If your true intent were to improve these articles, you’d look for free images that maintain the same contextual significance and quality. Instead, you’re pushing low-quality replacements that fail to meet the same standards, undermining the encyclopedic value of these pages. LJF2019 talk 09:22, 30 September 2024 (UTC)
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