One of Wikipedia’s most interesting rules regarding their content is that you cannot use information that came from your own personal research. This might sound counterintuitive to Wikipedia’s own guidelines of providing accurate information, but if the information provided cannot be verified by a reliable source, then it cannot be permitted for entry on the website. Many people object to this stringent standard because it literally prohibits the ability of a person to edit facts about their own lives. For instance, let’s say a famous actor noticed that their birth city was entered incorrectly on their Wikipedia page. They would have no recourse to change it unless they found a source citing their correct place of birth.
But, how far does this “No Original Research” rule extend? Obviously, all research is technically original research; you just can’t use your own research if it hasn’t been published in a reliable resource somewhere. In some cases, it may be applicable to edit a Wikipedia page technically using original research. For instance, if you wrote a peer-reviewed article that appeared in an academically accepted journal, then you could very easily edit a page using the information from that article (as long as you cited it correctly). This might seem overkill, but it’s important to the Wikipedia community to have some accountability. That’s why many people look for an expert Wikipedia editor to maintain certain articles.
Images and Original Research
It might seem plausible that the “No Original Research” statute would forbid anyone from using photos that they took on their own. After all, the images might seem like original research especially if they are in your own personal collection. In reality, however, Wikipedia embraces images created by their users. For instance, if you take a picture of a notable building and then use that picture on the building’s Wikipedia entry, then you will not be penalized. You might only be penalized if the shot is not of high quality or if features too many distractions. Otherwise, it will work.
So, it’s entirely feasible to document a current event with your camera and then use those images on a Wikipedia page about the current event. It’s also possible to use an image of another person, considering that the copyright generally belongs to the photographer and not the subject. Of course, you will need to surrender any copyright that you had on the picture beforehand. Once it is uploaded onto Wikipedia (and Wikimedia Commons) it becomes a freely licensed piece of media that anyone can use or reuse.
In some cases, an expert Wikipedia editor will deal with images when constructing or editing a Wikipedia page, but most images will not go against the “No Original Research” policy. Obviously, some images are copyrighted and you can’t simply lift those images from other websites to place on Wikipedia without getting the proper license from the owner first. You should also always try to avoid editing Wikipedia without reliable sources even if you know that the information you’re putting down is 100% factual.
by Michael Wood – Michael Wood is an online marketing expert and owner of Legalmorning.com. He specializes in reputation and brand management, article writing, and professional Wikipedia editing. He is an expert Wikipedia editor and has helped hundreds of businesses and people post their articles to the site where they have otherwise failed. He is a regular contributor to many online publications including AllBusiness Experts, Yahoo, Business Insider, and Social Media Today.