Google removed the image viewing feature

[Rev. Rye]

Making this even stranger, the "View Image" shows some at full size, some at thumbnail size.

To use the example I was using to test this, when expanding "Wreck of the Medusa," the 1200px version on Wikipedia goes to full size, but the 5000px version on Wikimedia Commons does not. And sometimes, copies of a particular image tend to shift wildly as to whether it's full size or thumbnail size.

Is there going to be any logic in this?

[Tiberius]

They were forced to do this as the result of a lawsuit, I don’t think logic comes into it at all.

[Rev. Rye]

They were forced to do this as the result of a lawsuit, I don’t think logic comes into it at all.

So, a lawsuit allows the "view image" to load a full-size image of "Wreck of the Medusa" from Wikipedia, but not one from Wikimedia Commons?

[Tiberius]

I have no idea. I’m just pointing out that this decision was the result of lawyers and the guys who code the image search probably had to comply with a bunch of weird cases.

[Rev. Rye]

Or maybe they're doing it this randomly on purpose so that internet users can get frustrated enough that they spam Getty into allowing Google to reintroduce the "view image" button.

[Tiberius]

I don’t think Getty will give a shit. They took Google to court over this and won. They aren’t going to back down if they get a load of emails. It’s easier to delete them.

[Shell B]

Bet it’ll hurt Getty. Whenever Google changes something, someone loses hits.

[vulcanlogician]

Just to clarify, I'm not being an apologist for copyright theft. (My money on the porch example wasn't the best.) If someone uses another's material for profit that is bullshit and needs to be stopped.

All I meant was, once you make your work public, expect it to be shared.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Good thing I don't show up on film. Or in mirrors.

[Minimalist]

I’m just pointing out that this decision was the result of lawyers

Yes.  And obviously they know nothing about right-clicking!