ArchiveCut / How to credit Wikimedia Commons images in a video

How to credit Wikimedia Commons images in a video

Give four things for each file: its title, its author, a link to its source page and its licence with a link to the licence text. Put them in your end credits or in a credits page linked from the video description, in whatever way the author asks for.

Checked against the sources listed below on 4 November 2026. General guidance, not legal advice: terms change, so read the current page before you rely on it.

A format you can copy

"[Title]" by [Author], via Wikimedia Commons, [licence, such as CC BY 4.0]
Source: [file page address]
Licence: [licence page address]
[If you changed it: Cropped from original]

Where to find the details

Open the file’s page on Commons. Its summary names the author and the licence, and links to the licence text. If the author asks for a particular credit, use theirs.

Where to put the credit in a film

End credits are hard to click, so pair them with a credits page. Creative Commons suggests a separate page listing each work’s details, linked where possible. For a video online, add the same details to the description where you can.

Can I use Wikimedia Commons images commercially?

Often yes, because Commons takes freely licensed and public-domain files, but check each file’s licence. Wikimedia gives no warranty that a file’s stated licence is correct, and images of people can need the subject’s agreement as well.

Can I use Wikimedia Commons images on YouTube?

Yes, if you meet the file’s licence terms, which usually means crediting it. The licence doesn’t decide whether YouTube will monetize the video. That is a separate policy, covered in our guide to faceless history channels.

Whom do I credit: the uploader or the author?

The original creator, usually listed as Author on the file page. The uploader only if they are the same person.

Do public-domain files need a credit?

Depending on the country, the law may not require one. Wikimedia recommends it anyway, so people can see where the picture came from.

What does share-alike mean for my film?

A CC BY-SA licence asks that what you build from the work carries the same licence. Decide whether that suits your film before you use the file, since it can matter for a commercial release.

What if I crop or change the picture?

Say so in the credit, for example “Cropped from original”. Creative Commons recommends noting changes.

Where ArchiveCut fits

Every ArchiveCut export includes a credits file with each picture’s creator, licence and source page, so you don’t have to assemble this by hand. Check it for how you plan to use the film.