Fair use for website images: what the law actually says
Fair use rarely protects website owners who use unlicensed images. Learn the four-factor test and discover when this defense actually holds up for web content.
Read moreGuides and tips on image copyright, licensing, and checking the images on your website for copyright risk.
Fair use rarely protects website owners who use unlicensed images. Learn the four-factor test and discover when this defense actually holds up for web content.
Read moreiStock is owned by Getty Images, which enforces iStock licenses using the same technology as Getty. Learn what an iStock license covers and what it does not.
Read morePinterest is not a license to use images on your website. Learn why images pinned to Pinterest stay copyrighted and how to find legitimate free alternatives.
Read moreScreenshots are protected by copyright by default. Learn when using screenshots in blog posts and tutorials is defensible and when it creates copyright risk.
Read morePaying a photographer does not automatically give you the copyright. Learn how work-for-hire and copyright assignment rules work for US business owners.
Read moreReceived a copyright demand letter from Getty, Higbee, or PicRights? Learn how settlements work, what reduces the demand amount, and when to hire an attorney.
Read moreEtsy sellers risk copyright demand letters over product images. Learn what licenses cover your listings and how to audit your shop before trouble arrives.
Read moreGetty Images uses PicScout perceptual-hash crawling to detect unlicensed images across the web. Learn how the system works and how to reduce your exposure.
Read moreA plain-language breakdown of Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay licenses covering commercial use, attribution rules, and restrictions every site owner should know.
Read moreWix and Squarespace users face real image copyright risk despite built-in stock libraries. Learn to audit your site images and avoid copyright demand letters.
Read moreAmazon FBA and marketplace sellers face real copyright liability for product images. Learn the most common risks and how to audit listings before a claim arrives.
Read moreCanva images are not free to use everywhere. This guide explains which Canva elements need a Pro license and how to stay within the license on your website.
Read moreCC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC: not all Creative Commons licenses allow commercial use. This guide explains which types business websites and blogs can use.
Read moreA DMCA takedown notice is not a lawsuit. Learn the difference from a demand letter, what your host must do, and when a counter-notification makes sense.
Read moreEXIF and IPTC metadata embedded in image files can identify the original creator and agency. Learn how to read it and what it signals about copyright risk.
Read moreGot a Higbee & Associates demand letter for a copyrighted image? A calm, step-by-step guide to respond without admitting willful infringement.
Read moreLearn how to detect AI-generated images using C2PA provenance, invisible markers like SynthID, and visual artifacts, and why it matters for copyright risk.
Read moreNo, Google Images is a search index, not a license. Learn why reusing Google-found images risks demand letters and how to find images you can use.
Read moreCan you use social media images legally? Usually no. Learn why reposting Instagram, X, and Pinterest photos can infringe copyright and how to stay safe.
Read moreLearn how to replace copyrighted images safely: remove risky files, find licensed replacements, clear CDN and search copies, and document the fix to defend a claim.
Read moreAgency image copyright liability explained: who is liable for an unlicensed image, how indemnification clauses work, and how to QA deliverables before handoff.
Read moreReal estate listing photo copyright trips up agents who reuse MLS and expired-listing images. Learn the rules, the risks, and how to stay licensed.
Read moreSee how reverse image search copyright checks work, where they fail, and what to layer on top to actually estimate your image infringement risk.
Read moreA Shopify-specific guide to image copyright: theme demo photos, supplier and AliExpress images, app imports, and how to audit your store before agencies do.
Read moreStock license explained: what a standard license permits, when you need an extended or enhanced license, and how a valid receipt defeats a claim.
Read moreCan you use AI images commercially? Learn how Midjourney, DALL-E, and Firefly licenses, copyright ownership, and infringement risk affect your business.
Read moreWhat the Copyright Claims Board is, the CCB damages cap, your opt-out right, and why ignoring a CCB notice can put a default judgment on your small business.
Read moreIn the US, statutory damages run $750 to $30,000 per work, up to $150,000 if willful, and only for works registered in time (17 U.S.C. 504(c), 412). See how they differ from actual damages and demand letters.
Read moreFind who owns an image using reverse image search, metadata, stock fingerprints, watermarks, and copyright records before you use it or answer a claim.
Read moreGot a PicRights demand letter? Learn if it is legit or a scam, what PicRights and Higbee do, and how to verify and respond before you pay a cent.
Read morePixGuard Scanner is a free WordPress plugin that connects your site to a PixGuard account so you can check your images for copyright risk signals: copyright metadata, visible stock watermarks, fingerprint matches and signs of AI generation.
Read moreCan AI-generated images be copyrighted? Can they infringe existing copyrights? A practical guide for creators, marketers, and businesses using Midjourney, DALL-E, and Stable Diffusion.
Read moreReceived a Getty Images demand letter? Here's exactly what to do, what not to do, and how to prevent copyright claims from stock photo agencies.
Read moreA step-by-step guide to auditing your website for copyrighted images: build an inventory, check each image, match it to your license records, and document what you decide.
Read more7 practical ways to check if an image is copyrighted, and who owns it, before you use it: metadata, watermarks, reverse image search, stock libraries, perceptual hashes, license terms and scanners.
Read moreFind the images on your site you can't prove you're allowed to use: build an inventory, trace sources, match licenses and decide what to fix first.
Read moreCopyrighted images aren't always obvious. Learn 5 ways stock agencies and image-tracking services identify their images, and what you can check on your own site.
Read moreComparing the best online copyright check tools in 2026. From Google Lens to specialized scanners, here's what each one can and can't tell you about image copyright.
Read moreReceived a demand letter from Getty, Shutterstock, or another stock agency? Learn what's happening, your options, and how to prevent future claims.
Read moreOnline stores publish lots of images from lots of sources. Learn where image copyright problems usually come from, how to check your store's images, and how to keep new ones licensed.
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