File talk:Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Faqasi al-Ghamdi.jpg

First, this individual disappeared into the CIAs archipelago of black sites, and hasnt been seen since.

Second, I looked for other images of this guy. I found lots of images of guys with similar names. And I found several places where this image was used, at several resolutions. Historycommons.org says the image is in the public domain. Time magazine credits the image to AP. All other sites publish it without any credits whatsoever.

It was first published by the Saudi Press Agency, a governmental agency. They received it from the Saudi Interior Ministry. Sole Soul (talk) 22:25, 16 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

That was quick. Can I ask how you determined this...

That would make the Time attribution to AP bogus.

Images published by the US Federal agencies are in the public domain, but most nations havent followed the US example. I think you mean to imply the KSA retains the intellectual property rights. So, in your opinion, does this enhance or erode a fair use claim...

Cheers Geo Swan (talk) 22:38, 16 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

This is the same picture that was published in the Saudi most wanted list. Of course the AP does not own the rights of this picture. The AP usually does not do original reporting from Saudi Arabia. They report what the Saudi government and Saudi press say. The Saudi government obtain such pictures from the family of the suspect or from official documents like the suspect ID or Visa. Sole Soul (talk) 07:19, 17 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not a copyright expert but the Saudi authorities encouraged the wide dissemination of these pictures (as expected). Reading the Saudi copyright law [1], the following part may be relevant:

"This provision shall not apply if the pictures...or if publication is permitted by public authorities in the service of public interest." Sole Soul (talk) 07:47, 17 January 2010 (UTC)[reply]