Wikipedia:Cosplay images in articles

Introduction

• Wikipedia has many articles on fictional characters that are portrayed by cosplayers as another version of the character.

• This guideline will help editors decide on using images of cosplayers used in articles.

• Wikipedia's third pillar states "Non-free content is allowed under fair use, but strive to find free alternatives to any media or content that you wish to add to Wikipedia."

• Many fictional character article images are copyrighted but still are needed to give the reader a grasp of copyrighted versions of the character. Cosplay images should not replace those but simply give readers a grasp using cosplay versions.

Type of article

If editors reach consenus on inclusion then cosplay images can be used in any article and not just those of fictional characters. Examples would be King Arthur, Bill Miner, or even Abraham Lincoln. If it is a good image of a well-made costume then articles like rabbit and broccoli may even get consensus for inclusion.

Placement

Cosplay images should not be in the infobox or lead of an article unless the subject is a cosplayer or used to represent a copy-protected character in any way. However, cosplay images may be used to illustrate sourced content about the real world impact that cosplay has had on a copy-protected character. This content may be placed in a 'Popular culture' section.

Examples

Some of these should be included in article space and some not. (The headings are hypothetical for now.)

Accepted

• 
  Black Widow
• 
  Captain America
• 
  Catwoman
• 
  Society for Creative Anachronism activities
• 
  Steampunk and G. D. Falksen

Discussed

• 
  Black Widow, consensus may decide on the un-modified image above
• 
  Deadpool, commons may have better ones
• 
  Jessica Rabbit, commons may have better ones
• 
  Broccoli has many costumes but this is a free license one

Declined

• 
  The Lord of the Rings, this is not an actual scenario from any version
• 
  Broccoli, not a complete costume
• 
  Rabbit, obvious