ImgComplianceScan free

Free tool

Image copyright checker: is this image copyrighted?

Paste the address of any image. We run a reverse image search, look for matches on stock photo platforms and read the copyright metadata – then show you the risk and what to do.

Right-click an image → “Copy image address”, then paste it here. 5 free checks per day.

How to check if an image is copyrighted

  • Start from the assumption that every photo is copyrighted – protection is automatic.
  • Run a reverse image search (the checker above does this) to see where else the image appears.
  • If it appears on Shutterstock, Getty Images, iStock, Adobe Stock or similar, you need a license from that platform or the photographer.
  • Check the metadata: a copyright or creator field names the rights holder.
  • Look for watermarks, credit lines and the license page of the site you got the image from.
  • Keep a record of the license (invoice, account download history, license text) for every image you publish.

What the result means

  • High risk: the image matches a commercial stock platform or carries a rights claim in its metadata. Use it only with a documented license.
  • Medium risk: the image appears on other sites or design platforms, or its origin is unclear. Verify the source.
  • Low risk: no external matches or risk signals were found. Still keep your own source record.
  • Unknown: not enough web information to classify the image.

Royalty-free is not copyright-free

Many claims start with an image someone believed was free. Read royalty-free vs copyright-free for the difference, and what to do if you already received a Copytrack or PicRights letter.

Not legal advice

The checker shows automated risk indicators. A match does not prove that you lack a license, and no match does not prove that an image is free to use.

How do I know if an image is copyrighted?

Assume it is. In the US, the UK and the EU, photos are protected automatically from the moment they are created – no © symbol or registration is needed. The real question is whether you have a license for your use. A reverse image search shows where else the image appears, for example on stock platforms, which tells you whose license to look for.

What does this image copyright checker check?

It runs a web-scale reverse image search, checks matches against stock photo platforms such as Shutterstock, Getty Images, iStock and Adobe Stock, reads copyright fields in the image metadata (EXIF/IPTC), and turns that into a risk level with a recommendation.

If no match is found, is the image free to use?

No. No match only means the image was not found in public web sources. It may still be copyrighted – for example a photographer's unpublished work. Use images only when you know their source and license.

Is it free?

Yes. You can check 5 single images per day for free, no account needed. To check every image on a website at once, use the free website scan.

Do you store the image?

We download the image only to analyze it and keep a fingerprint of the result to answer repeat checks faster. We don't publish or reuse your images.

Check every image on your website at once

Run a free scan first. You will see the risk summary before deciding whether to unlock the full PDF report.

Scan your site free