Forum:Filenames starting with numbers

Can we please make a rule against uploading images that start with a number? Please?

I'll explain. We currently have a rule against uploading duplicate images. That's fine, though frequently ignored. Now, due to some unknown mechanism in the wiki software, duplicate images often have filenames starting with the width of the image in pixels, followed by px then a dash and the original filename. So you'll often see, for example, File:250px-Sonic1.jpg which is a copy of File:Sonic1.jpg.

In fact, every single time an image with a name starting with number-px is uploaded, it must be a copy of an image on this site or another site. If it's from another site then, first of all, the uploader may not have permission to upload it. Even if it's from another Wikia wiki, the uploader has to state where he took it from and provide a link for attribution. That's part of the Wikia license. Second, assuming the upload is valid, then the uploader should be using the highest quality image from the other site and not one that would put number-px at the front. Third, the uploader should be taking the care to give the image a proper name, even if that just means taking off the number-px prefix. It's not that hard.

There's also the possibility that images might be uploaded starting with numbers but of a different format. Well they shouldn't be allowed either, and the same reasons apply. The uploader should be taking the care to give the image a proper title, rather than a random string of numbers and/or letters. I know we've got a lot of images of both kinds already uploaded, and if/once we pass the rule, I'd really like people to help rename them. -- Supermorff (talk) 07:53, August 9, 2012 (UTC)