What is Shutterstock?

Shutterstock is a stock content library that sells licenses for photos, vectors, and video. A downloaded file is only covered by the license that was bought for it, under the terms that applied at the time.

Is Shutterstock the same as Getty Images or iStock?

No. iStock belongs to Getty Images, which is a separate company with its own library and its own claims process. If your letter names Getty Images or iStock, use our Getty Images checklist instead.

We licensed the image through an agency or freelancer. Is that enough?

It can be, but you need the evidence. Ask the agency or freelancer for the license or invoice for this specific image and confirm that it covers your website and the period of use.

Will removing the image make the claim go away?

Removing it stops further use, but it does not by itself settle a claim for past use. Save the letter, the page, and a screenshot before you change anything.

Can ImgCompliance tell me whether the claim is valid?

No. ImgCompliance is not a law firm and has no access to Shutterstock accounts or license records. It shows where an image appears on your site and which other images match stock sources, so you can review them.

Shutterstock demand letter: what to check before you pay

Important note

This is practical information, not legal advice. ImgCompliance is not affiliated with Shutterstock or anyone who sends claims about its images, and cannot verify a claim on your behalf.

What such a letter usually contains

The image in question, usually with a screenshot.
The URL of the page where the image was found.
The date or period the image was detected on your site.
A request to show a valid license or to pay a license or additional fee.

1. Find the page and the image

Is (or was) the image actually on your website, on the page named in the letter?
Save the letter, a screenshot, and the page as it looks today before changing anything.
Does the company, domain, and time period match your business?

2. Look for license evidence

Check every Shutterstock account your company or staff may have used: download history and invoices.
Search email and accounting for Shutterstock receipts or subscription invoices.
If an agency or freelancer built the site, ask for the license for this specific image.
Compare the license terms with how the image is used on your site.

3. Check the rest of your site

Look for the same image on other pages, blog posts, landing pages, and PDFs. A site that has one unclear stock photo often has more. A free ImgCompliance scan checks up to 100 images with a reverse image search and shows where each one is used. You can see the structure in the sample report.

Removing the image is not the end

Taking the photo down stops further use. It does not by itself settle a claim for the time the image was already online. Document everything first, then decide.

What the scan does and does not do

ImgCompliance does not check whether a claim is justified. It shows where an image appears on your site and whether other images match stock sources. That helps you gather the facts – it does not prove or rule out an infringement.

Decide with the right help

If you have a license, submit it through the channel named in the letter. If you do not, or the request seems unclear, talk to a copyright lawyer before you pay or sign anything.

Related resources

Start with the demand letter overview. Letters from other senders: Getty Images and Pixsy. Some US letters about stock photos come from law firms; see the Higbee & Associates checklist. For a site-wide process, use the website image copyright audit guide.