Nowadays, it has become very common to use images on the Internet. Whether posting on social media, adding images to a blog or website, or using images in a presentation, we often download images from the Internet. However, we must remember that not every use of images is legal. Many images are protected under copyright, which can be legally wrong to use without permission. So, the question is how can we know whether an image is copyrighted or not? Let us know some easy ways by which you can find out whether an image is copyrighted or not.
Reverse image search is a simple and effective way to find out if an image has already been used elsewhere. You can use tools like Google, TinEye, or Yandex.
Google Reverse Image Search:
First, go to the Google Image Search page.
Click on the "Search by Image" option here.
Now upload your image or paste the URL of the image.
Google will show you all the web pages and sources related to that image.
This will help you understand what the source of the image is and if it is copyrighted by another person or website.
Many images have license information or credits, which explains how that image can be used. If the image has a "Creative Commons" license or some other license information, it means that you can use that image under certain conditions. For example, you may need to credit the creator of the image or specify that it can only be used for personal purposes.
Many websites, such as Pixabay, Unsplash, and Pexels, offer images that are under the Creative Commons license, which can be used free of charge. However, it's still important to carefully read their license terms before using these images.
If you want to use an image, the best way is to visit the website that hosts the image. There you can find information about the use of the image. Many websites, such as Shutterstock, Getty Images, or other professional image websites, clearly state the license and terms of use with the images.
Also, if you can contact the owner of an image directly, this can give you accurate information about whether or not the image is allowed to be used.
There are many online tools available on the Internet, which can help you know if an image is copyrighted or not. Some of these tools can also tell you if your image is being used somewhere else without permission.
Some of the major tools that can help in this task are:
TinEye: This is a reverse image search tool that gives you information about the source of the image and its use.
Pixsy: This tool is for images that have been used wrongly. Here you can track your image and know whether it is violating copyright or not.
Some images have a copyright sign (©) or watermark, which indicates that the copyright of the image is with the owner of that image. If you see this mark on an image, it means that the image is copyrighted and cannot be used without permission.
If you need to use an image and you're not sure whether it's copyrighted, the safest way is to get permission from the creator or owner of the image. Many images have the creator's name and contact information, so you can contact them directly and get permission. This will help you avoid legal trouble.
Some countries have copyright registries and databases where images and other creative works are registered. You can use these databases to check whether an image has a copyright. This method isn't available in all countries, but it's a good idea to use where it is available.
It is important to follow copyright terms when using images on the Internet. Using images without permission can lead to legal trouble. By doing a reverse image search, checking license information, and the source of the image, you can make sure that the image you are using is not infringing copyright. If you are still in doubt, it is always a safe bet to ask permission from the creator.
This way you can stay legally safe when using images on the Internet!