Commons:Cross-wiki upload
 | It has been suggested that this project page should be merged into Commons:Cross-wiki media upload tool. (discuss) Reason: project pages about the same topic |
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This page in a nutshell: Due to massive upload of copyright violations and wrong licensed files through the cross-wiki upload form Wikimedia Commons community proposed to block this feature for new accounts. |
The cross-wiki upload or mw:Upload dialog is a tool with a small interface to upload files to Wikimedia Commons while editing articles on Wikipedia. The tool only allows users to upload their own works under CC-BY-SA 4.0 license.
The tool is available in VisualEditor and wikitext editor. Uploaded files are tagged as Cross-wiki upload in the recent changes.
Many users uploaded not own works through that tool violating the copyright of others. In July 2024 the Wikimedia Commons community supported the idea of blocking to the tool for all new users. This block has not yet been implemented.
The problem
editAdmins on Commons are deleting many files uploaded through the tool as copyright violations. As the tool only allows the upload of own works many users claim the work of others as their own works.
A study done in 2016 found that most uploads by new users through the function are problematic.[1]
An user experience and design research report by the WMF published in June 2024 proved these observations made by the community for years. The report also showed that people think they are uploading files to the local Wikipedia and not to Wikimedia Commons what they might not even know about.
The GUI of the upload dialog prefills most declaration statements and only mentions "consider using" the Upload Wizard for cases "If you do not own the copyright on this file, or you wish to release it under a different license" (July 2024).
Cross-wiki uploads had been restricted by Abuse filter since 2016.
Needed changes
editThe MediaWiki default text (mw:Manual:$wgUploadDialog) on the upload page should be changed to inform users that they are only able to use the tool if they edited directly on Wikimedia Commons before. Local Wikis might need to change their how to and guideline pages. If Wikis want to remove the feature entirely they have to request a configuration change.
On Wikipedia, the interface message w:MediaWiki:Upload-form-label-not-own-work-message-commons can provide a better recommendation for the Commons:Upload Wizard.
On Commons, Special:AbuseFilter/153 can be extended to block all uploads by new users.
Other known issues with cross-wiki upload
edit- Location coordinates are not recognized (WP/T)
Other tools and future development
editOther tools allowing direct upload from other Wikis are not affected by this.
The restrictions might be lifted after implementation of a new design for the cross-wiki upload process.