File talk:Windows 8 Start Screen.png

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Software: Computing

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Cannot be replaced by a free image?

I noticed that the Start screen is mostly made up of non-copyrightable elements (simple geometrical shapes). The only exceptions I see are the background image and the images used on some of the app tiles. We can replace the background and apps with a blank background and apps that show free content on their tiles, so I don't believe this image meets NFCC criterion #1 ("no free equivalent.") I know we tend to prefer screenshots that show the software's default configuration, but of course Wikipedia's copyright policy overrules any preference we may have. - Josh (talk | contribs) 23:47, 3 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. I love your concern, but no, it cannot be done. A single geometric shape is not eligible for copyright protection but that does not mean an entire work composed of them is not eligible either. Besides, you need a whole fleet of tiles under free content license that can expand to Metro-style app size, which I am afraid are non-existent. (I repeat: free genuine tiles are non-existent; not rare, but non-existent.) Photoshopping free logos onto tiles is another way but that's forgery. Best regards, Codename Lisa (talk) 09:12, 4 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like Wikimedia Commons is already allowing a file with the Start screen less it content. As for the claim that no apps display free content...Photos and Desktop only display pictures that I choose. Many apps display only text. I'm not saying it'd be easy. Even if we can't do away with copyrighted content altogether aren't we supposed to use as little as possible? - Josh (talk | contribs) 17:21, 4 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Like I said: fake. And "claim that no apps display free content"? I did not say such a thing. Best regards, Codename Lisa (talk) 17:24, 4 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

If their content were free, surely they would be existent "free genuine tiles" in the sense relevant to this discussion? - Josh (talk | contribs) 17:27, 4 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Hi. Yes, if you could find tiles from apps that show free contents, yes. Still, I expect the composed work issue is not easily fixable. Even after a lot of work, the end result would be poor and most people would probably argue that free contents cannot adequately replace non-free yet. (I among them.) Best regards, Codename Lisa (talk) 18:31, 4 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]