User:Jeff G./Copyrighth

Copyright question

We have a large group of policies related to copyrights: WP:IUP, WP:FU, WP:NFCC, WP:COPYRIGHT, and more. You can take the time to read them if you want. If you don't, here's the simple explanation:

• All images you find on the web are copyrighted unless there is a specific statement saying that it is not copyrighted.
• You cannot download images from the web and put them on Wikipedia except for a few exceptions about record covers and book covers.
• Even record covers and book covers can only be included in the article about that record or book.
• You can never upload a picture of a living person without written permission from the photographer. I'll say that one again, because it's important: never upload a picture of a living person without written permission from the photographer.

As to why other sites do it, it's simple: most of them are breaking the law. We don't, and editors that do are blocked.