Page:Wikipedia Training Manual.pdf/24

 11–Wikimedia Commons

Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org) is a media file repository making available public domain and freely-licensed educational media content (images, sound and video clips) to everyone. It allows contributors to freely upload and share media works that have educational value with the wider community. As of February 2012, Wikimedia Commons has over 12 millionsmillion [sic] media files uploaded.

All media uploaded to Wikimedia Commons must be available under a free licence. This means that each and every file can be used by anybody, for any purpose (including “commercial” use). Wikimedia Commons encourages copyright holders to licence their files under the ‘Creative Commons’ licences and does not use “non-commercial” and “no-derivative” Creative Commons clauses as they are too restrictive and files under these licences are not permitted. Images that are in the Public Domain, and have not owner are very welcome!

Using files from Wikimedia Commons can visually enhance the content in your Wikipedia article. See 6–Creating a new article, step 8 pg 17 for instructions for adding a media file to your Wikipedia article.

Steps for uploading a media file to Wikimedia Commons.

Uploading single images or small batches of images is very simple using the Commons’ “upload wizard”, however uploading lots of images is complicated. The following instructions focus on uploading images, however uploading other sorts of files (audio, video, etc) follows much the same procedure.

1. Log into Wikimedia Commons using your Wiki account. (http://commons.wikimedia.org)

2. Click on the Upload File link on the left hand tool bar. Wikipedia Training Manual