I have found that new image uploads require copyright information in order to be published.  There is a simple menu for adding that.  There is not a built in Uploaded Media folder (or any built in folder at all) in the files section of my courses, and uploading images did not create new folders when I tested it.  No new folder appeared; my upload is just one of many files in the files section.  New folders in the files section are published by default, so someone who contributed to building the course would have had to choose to unpublish any folder that is not published.