Wikipedia is a free content encyclopedia. Therefore non-free images are generally not allowed. In some cases an exception can be made when a non-free image significantly increases readers' understanding of the topic of the article it is used in. More information about the use of non-free content is available on Wikipedia:Non-free content.
The following four steps are designed to help Wikipedians in using non-free images.
Step 1. Check significance
Each use of a non-free image in an article must be significant.
Only include a non-free image in an article when all these points can be confirmed:
- the subject of the image is explicitly discussed in the text of the article
- the image conveys information that is significant for the readers' understanding of the topic of the article
- the information in the image cannot be conveyed by means of words alone
- the information in the image cannot be conveyed by means of an alternative and non-free image
- the image caption points out the significant information in the image
Step 2. Specify non-free use rationale
- See for detailed information WP:NFURG.
Include one non-free use rationale for each article that uses the non-free image.
Use {{Non-free use rationale}} to include all necessary components:
{{Non-free use rationale | Description = | Source = | Article = | Portion = | Low_resolution = | Purpose = | Replaceability = | other_information = }}
Step 3. Specify location
Specify the location of the image in the purpose of use description:
in the infobox of the article [[X]]
in the lead of the article [[X]]
in the section [[X#Y|Y]] of the article [[X]]
Step 4. Specify significance
- See for detailed information WP:NFCC, policy criterion #8 "Significance".
Good purpose of use descriptions specify the significance in the non-free use rationale:
"To identify the logo of CNN in the infobox of the article CNN." [1]
"To illustrate the visual style of the film Baseball Bugs in the section Plot synopsis of the article Baseball Bugs." [2]
"To visually identify Mickey Mouse in the infobox of the article Mickey Mouse." [3]
Bad purpose of use descriptions don't specify the image location and/or the significance:
"The screenshot is used to illustrate something described in the article."
"Its use here is entirely encyclopedic."
"This is a visual representation of the topic."