Wikipedia:Upload/Uploadtext/en-nonfree-albumcover

Uploading a work that is not free content, under a fair use rationale (cover of a music album or single)

Use the following form to upload an album cover that is not free content, if its display in specific Wikipedia articles constitutes fair use. To upload a work of a different kind, please return to Wikipedia:Upload.

Please read this important message first

The goal of all Wikimedia Foundation projects, including Wikipedia, is to contain free content. Works that are not free content may only be uploaded to Wikipedia if they are covered by Wikipedia's Exemption Doctrine Policy, which specifies limited conditions under which non-free content can be used. You should not upload a non-free image if there is a reasonable expectation that a free image does or ever could exist. Please instead find a free image, persuade the owner of the copyright on the non-free image to license it under a free copyright licence, or even create an image that is entirely your own work and license it as free content.

Why am I here?

Covers, illustrations, posters, movies, stamp and currency designs, web site screenshots, game screens, music videos, and so forth, even promotional pictures and advertisements, are copyrighted, with exclusive rights to use them, to copy them, and to make works derived from them reserved to the copyright holder. (There are additional restrictions with respect to stamps and currencies.) Wikipedia respects the copyrights of others — do not upload images that violate others' copyrights.

What are the limited conditions?

In general, non-free content uploaded under the Exemption Doctrine should be used only when the specific image itself is significant to the article, not merely what it depicts. The image must be not replaceable by a free content alternative that depicts the same thing. In other words, a screenshot from a movie is acceptable to use when talking about the movie itself — it is not acceptable to use it to talk about the actress who happens to be in the picture. (It is possible for a free content picture of the actress to be taken.) Please also be aware that section 3a of Wikipedia's Exemption Doctrine Policy specifies that multiple non-free images should not be used when one would suffice. Therefore, a second image of an album cover (including alternative covers, re-releases, etc.) is generally not permitted. If you are still in doubt, ask at Wikipedia:Media copyright questions before uploading the image! See Wikipedia:Copyrights, Wikipedia:Non-free content, Wikipedia:Image copyright tags, and Wikipedia:Image use policy for a full explanation of the Wikipedia licensing policy.

Step 1. Choose an appropriate filename.

Change the destination filename to something descriptive. Don't use default filenames! Good: Album XYZ cover.jpeg Bad: IMG0592.JPG

Step 2. Pick an appropriate entry from the licence selector.

Select the entry in the licence selector that is appropriate to this image.

Step 3. Supply a description and a "fair use" rationale.

Write a clear description for the image you are uploading in the "edit summary" box. This must contain: Article: the name of the article in which this image is to be used (no brackets) To help prevent your image from being deleted, it is highly recommended that you also provide source information even if the source is obvious: Source: the exact source of the image, such as the URL giving the location on the World Wide Web that you downloaded it from The other available fields are listed below. Please note that the Purpose field is required if "other item" was selected. Name – Name of work / album if different than article Artist – Musician's name Label Graphic Artist – If known Item – What is the artwork? Front cover? Back cover? Etc. Type – What kind of music format? CD? Album? Etc. Website – If taken from the web, where? Owner – Who owns the copyright, if known Commentary – Discuss any commentary in the article about the cover art itself. Description – Additional information about album or artwork Portion – If you did not use the whole cover, what part did you use and why? Low_resolution – If the image is unusually large or small, why? Purpose – If use is not one of the above categories, explain how you use it. Replaceability – Explain why the image can't be replaced with free use, if boilerplate explanations aren't accurate Other_information – Any other information you think helps the image's fair use case If you do not provide a detailed rationale for the fair use of non-free images, they will be deleted.

Note. To comment on the upload form for the "cover of an album or single" please go to its talk page.