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The Wikimedia Commons (also called "Commons" or "Wikicommons") is a repository of free images, sound and other multimedia files. It is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. Files uploaded to this repository can be used like local files by other projects on the Wikimedia servers, including Wikipedia, Wikibooks and Wikinews.
Using images
Images that are uploaded to the Wikimedia Commons can be used on other Wikimedia projects. The syntax for the images is the same as local images. If there is a local file stored on that particular Wiki, it will be used. If there is no local file the Wiki uses the image from the Commons repository.
History
The project was launched on September 7, 2004. In November 2004, it reached a milestone of 10,000 uploaded media files. It was also the first Wikimedia project to use Mediawiki 1.4.
Languages
The main language for the commons wiki is English, but the interface can be configured (in user preferences) to use any other language, some pages have also been translated into various languages.
Copyrights
As of 2004, the Wikimedia Commons does not allow uploads under non-free licenses, including licenses which restrict commercial use of materials, or are used under "fair use". Licences that are acceptable include the GFDL, Creative Commons (some variants) and the public domain.
External links
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