User:Rambo's Revenge/Image review

This is an essay.

It contains the advice or opinions of one or more Wikipedia contributors. This page is not an encyclopedia article, nor is it one of Wikipedia's policies or guidelines, as it has not been thoroughly vetted by the community. Some essays represent widespread norms; others only represent minority viewpoints.

Preferably all information about an image should be put in an {{information}} template.

File information

Description

Information about what the image is depicting.

Source

If the it is the uploaders own work, then this should say "Created by uploader", "Self-made", "Own work". Check the history log to confirm that it was the uploader of the image who said this, not someone at a later date.
If it is a derivative work (e.g. a crop) of another image please specify and link to that image. On Commons you can use templates like {{Extracted from}}
If the uploader has uploaded any other image in the public domain^[1] it should be stated where the image came from: This could range from publications such as books, to websites. If the source is a website, it should provide a working url to the image hosted on that website. Where possible the image's URL should not just provide the image but context and information.^[2]
If copied from the Internet, provide a link. If from another source, provide a full description.

Date

When the photo was taken/was published.
- Some licences need the date to confirm copyright expiration.^[3]
- Some licenses need the date the image was first published, e.g. {{PD-Pre1978}}

Author

Specify who the author is, if known.
- This is very important when the image is public domain because the author has been dead for long enough, e.g. {{PD-old-70}}

Licensing

Information about why an image is public domain. This could be many templates, e.g. {{PD-self}}, {{OTRS}}, {{PD-USGov}}

Other things

If the image has been transferred to Commons there may be additional requirements (see Wikipedia:Moving images to the Commons). For example, it can be necessary to record information of the original uploader, and intermediate revisions made to the file on a local wiki.
Check for copyvios. An image may provide a website as a source, and claim that is is PD. Check the website's privacy/copyright policy to see if it claims copyright. If it does, it maybe a possible copyvio.^[4]
It may be worth checking the uploaders talk page. If it is full of image warnings then some of those concerns might apply to the image you are reviewing.
If the image is a under a free license, upload/transfer to Commons. If the source was Flickr, as for Flickr review at Commons. If it's PD, ask for PD. ((RR - ad links please)

Notes

^ For example, things with {{PD-USGov}} etc.
^ For example, this is a direct image link that gives no information, whereas this provides an article context for the image. In cases like these it may be helpful to specify both as sources.
^ For example, in the U.S., if a work is unpublished and the death date of the author is not known, then copyright expires 120 years after creation.[1]
^ There are cases when this is not true, for example the author may have uploaded it onto the site and onto Wiki, or the author may have given permission via the OTRS system.

[1] For example, things with {{PD-USGov}} etc.

[2] For example, this is a direct image link that gives no information, whereas this provides an article context for the image. In cases like these it may be helpful to specify both as sources.

[3] For example, in the U.S., if a work is unpublished and the death date of the author is not known, then copyright expires 120 years after creation.[1]

[4] There are cases when this is not true, for example the author may have uploaded it onto the site and onto Wiki, or the author may have given permission via the OTRS system.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]