Is every image on the internet copyrighted?

Almost every recent one. In the US and in the 180+ countries of the Berne Convention, copyright applies automatically as soon as a photo or graphic is created. No © symbol, registration, or watermark is required.

If an image has no copyright notice, can I use it?

No. A missing notice does not mean the image is free. Treat any image as protected unless you can show a license or that it is in the public domain.

How can I find out who owns an image?

Run a reverse image search (Google Lens, TinEye, or our free checker) to find the earliest and most authoritative source, read the embedded EXIF/IPTC metadata for author and copyright fields, and check stock agencies for the same picture. The owner is usually the photographer or the agency that licenses the image.

Is an image copyrighted if I edit it?

Yes. Cropping, adding filters, or putting text on someone else's image does not remove their copyright. The edited version is usually a derivative work that still needs permission.

Which images are in the public domain?

In the US, works published before 1931 (as of 2026), most works created by US federal government employees as part of their job, and works the owner has explicitly dedicated to the public domain (for example under CC0). Other countries have different rules.

What happens if I use a copyrighted image without permission?

Owners and agencies such as Getty Images, PicRights, Copytrack, or law firms working for photographers send demand letters asking for a license fee or damages. For registered works, US statutory damages can reach $30,000 per work, or more for willful infringement.

How to check if an image is copyrighted

The short answer

Almost every image you find online is copyrighted. Copyright applies automatically when a photo or graphic is created — no registration, © symbol, or watermark needed. So the real question is not "is it copyrighted?" but "who owns it, and do I have permission to use it here?"

Step 1: Run a reverse image search

Upload the image or paste its URL into a reverse image search. It shows where else the same picture appears, which often reveals the original photographer, a stock agency listing, or the site that published it first. Our free image copyright checker does this and flags matches on stock platforms such as Shutterstock, Getty Images, iStock and Adobe Stock in one step.

Step 2: Read the metadata

Many professional photos carry EXIF or IPTC fields like Copyright, Artist, Creator or Credit. On Windows open the file properties, on macOS use Preview → Tools → Show Inspector, or use any online EXIF viewer. A filled-in copyright field is strong evidence of an owner; an empty one proves nothing, because websites often strip metadata.

Step 3: Look for visible signals

Watermarks, photographer signatures, or agency logos (even partly cropped).
File names like shutterstock_123456.jpg, iStock-987654.jpg, GettyImages-…, AdobeStock_…
A credit line or caption near the image on the page where you found it.
The same image on a stock site — then it is licensed content, not free content.

Step 4: Check the license at the source

If you trace the image to its source, read the license there. Stock licenses limit how and where you can use an image. Free platforms (Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay) have their own licenses with exclusions. Creative Commons images require the conditions of the specific license, often attribution. Save a screenshot of the license together with the download date — it is your proof later.

Step 5: Search public records (US)

Registered works are listed in the US Copyright Office public records. Registration matters because it allows owners to sue and claim statutory damages. Not finding a registration does not mean the image is free — most photos are never registered and are still protected.

When an image is not copyrighted

It is in the public domain because its term has expired (in the US, works published before 1931 as of 2026).
It was created by a US federal government employee as part of their official duties.
The owner has dedicated it to the public domain, for example under CC0.
It is a purely machine-generated AI image — though the tool's terms still apply, and the output can copy protected works.

Checking a whole website instead of one image

If you are worried about the images already on your site, checking them one by one does not scale. A free ImgCompliance scan collects the images on your website, runs the reverse image search for each one, and shows how many match stock platforms. For the full workflow see the website image copyright audit guide, and for the difference between licenses see royalty-free vs copyright-free.

Not legal advice

This guide explains general principles. Copyright rules differ by country and the facts of each case matter. If you have received a demand letter, consult a qualified lawyer.

How to check if an image is copyrighted (5 steps)