Appropriate use of media is a criterion for Featured Article status, and is also considered at the A-Class and GA level. This page outlines some of the things you should consider when trying to get an article to pass an image review, or generally want to improve the use of images in an article.
Before even considering the nitty-gritty of copyright details, look at the article. The point of having media at all is to support the content and assist in reader understanding.
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where needed, for example to allow readers to see details that may be lost at a smaller size. Also consider image placement: messing up headers or sandwiching bits of text between images should both be avoided where possible.Click through to the description pages of all media in the article, including in any templates, navboxes, etc. (Yes, those count too!). Generally that description page should include information on what the image is, its provenance (source, author, date), and its licensing status. For each media item, look at the appropriate section below - own work, free but not own work, non-free - as well as at the other considerations. Don't assume that just because the image has been uploaded by someone else, or even is used in other articles, it is unproblematic; look for yourself to see whether everything checks out.
We generally accept on faith that an image claimed as own work is the work of the uploader. However, keep an eye out for elements within the image (such as a watermark) or contextually that call this attribution into question. If you are in doubt about the image's provenance, you can try using tools like TinEye to track down other online publications of this image, which may have further details. Keep in mind that facts cannot be copyrighted but originality of expression can be. Derivative works may or may not garner a new copyright.
If the image is not a photo, one or more sources should be provided to verify that it is accurate. For example, a map showing the range of a species can be cited to a textual description.
Own-work media files should be released under a permissible license. Licensing "for use on Wikipedia only" is not allowed. If the copyright holder is a non-Wikimedian who wishes to donate the file, an OTRS ticket is often used to record their release.
Appropriate use of media is a criterion for Featured Article status, and is also considered at the A-Class and GA level. This page outlines some of the things you should consider when trying to get an article to pass an image review, or generally want to improve the use of images in an article.
Before even considering the nitty-gritty of copyright details, look at the article. The point of having media at all is to support the content and assist in reader understanding.
|upright=
where needed, for example to allow readers to see details that may be lost at a smaller size. Also consider image placement: messing up headers or sandwiching bits of text between images should both be avoided where possible.Click through to the description pages of all media in the article, including in any templates, navboxes, etc. (Yes, those count too!). Generally that description page should include information on what the image is, its provenance (source, author, date), and its licensing status. For each media item, look at the appropriate section below - own work, free but not own work, non-free - as well as at the other considerations. Don't assume that just because the image has been uploaded by someone else, or even is used in other articles, it is unproblematic; look for yourself to see whether everything checks out.
We generally accept on faith that an image claimed as own work is the work of the uploader. However, keep an eye out for elements within the image (such as a watermark) or contextually that call this attribution into question. If you are in doubt about the image's provenance, you can try using tools like TinEye to track down other online publications of this image, which may have further details. Keep in mind that facts cannot be copyrighted but originality of expression can be. Derivative works may or may not garner a new copyright.
If the image is not a photo, one or more sources should be provided to verify that it is accurate. For example, a map showing the range of a species can be cited to a textual description.
Own-work media files should be released under a permissible license. Licensing "for use on Wikipedia only" is not allowed. If the copyright holder is a non-Wikimedian who wishes to donate the file, an OTRS ticket is often used to record their release.