Thread:Transmunks262/@comment-22439-20130821074352/@comment-1038387-20130822123612

That is primarily because of fair use. We invoke the fair use doctrine when we add an image, which states we use copyrighted material because there's no free alternative, and it's added to showcase the physical appearance of the depicted.

If you add a copyrighted non-DC image (like from an anime, or Marvel Comics, or Disney), we can't cite fair use. And if you add a dc image for the sole purpose of adorning your user page, we also can't cite fair use. We're lax on it in some aspects, but this is a line we don't cross.