Wikipedia:Upload/Uploadtext/en-ownwork

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Uploading a file you created

Use the following form to upload a file that you, personally, created. To upload a work of a different kind, please return to Wikipedia:Upload.
Please read this important message first
This form should be used to upload a work that you created from scratch. The act of scanning or photocopying someone else's work is not considered to be "creative". Additionally, it is important that your work not incorporate third party clip art unless that clip art is public domain. The image must be completely your creation – meaning that you took the photograph, painted the painting.
If you are uploading a file for use in an article, please create an account at the Wikimedia Commons and upload it there.

The Wikimedia Commons is a collection of freely licensed images that are automatically available to all Wikimedia projects, such as Wikipedias in other languages.
Step 1. Choose an appropriate filename and enter a description.
  • Change the destination filename to something descriptive. Don't use default filenames!
    Good: John Doe in 1997.jpg
       Bad: IMG0592.JPG
  • Write a clear description for the file you are uploading in the "edit summary" box.
    • Description: What is the work of?
    • Date: When was the work made, or if you are uploading a photo, when was the photo taken?
    • Other versions: Optional. List any other versions of this work that have been uploaded (for example, a cropped, brightened, darkened, etc. version of a photo).
    • The "Source" and "Author" fields are automatically filled in for you.
Step 2. Release your work under a free license

All user-created images must be released under a free license. For purposes of Wikipedia, "free" does not merely mean that you don't charge for it, but it means that you allow everyone to use, alter, and redistribute your work for any purpose. This release is not revocable.

Wikipedia does not accept images that are licensed for "non-commercial" use, licensed only to Wikipedia, for which permission is required for reuse, or that do not permit derivative works to be created. Part of Wikipedia's mission is to provide freely reusable content and having images encumbered by restrictive licensing schemes runs counter to that mission.

Some of the license you can choose include:

  • Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) – This license allows anyone to use the work as long as they credit you and distribute any modifications to the work under the same, similar or a compatible license.
  • GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) – This is the same license that you release all of your text contributions to Wikipedia under. It requires that a record of others' changes to the work and a copy of the 3,000-word license be included when distributing printed copies of the work. Any modifications to the work must also be licensed under the GFDL.

It is recommended that you license your work under both the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike and the GNU Free Documentation License. A list of other licenses that you can choose is available at Wikipedia:Image copyright tags/Free licenses.