In our modern and evolving digital era, visual content or images are everywhere. With a single search, we can find any type of image on Google. We can admire the beauty of these images or use them as our wallpapers. However, when it comes to using these images in our work, things get complicated.
For example, you can’t simply use an image from Google in your personal blog or YouTube video. This is because almost all images online are owned by someone. In other words, someone is the original creator of that image. You can’t use that image without their permission or without citing the owner.
So, how can you find the copyright owner of an image on Google? Images used on certain websites might have their owners listed underneath. This is very rare. For most images, the process is not this easy. Therefore, this article will help you understand copyrights and how to utilize them.
Risks of Using Copyrighted Images
Firstly, we need to understand the consequences of using copyrighted images in our content. The most watered-down explanation of this is that such a practice is illegal. Some of the specifics are as follows:
- Copyright violations can result in costly fines, legal action, and removal of content.
- Copyright owners have the right to sue anyone who uses their work without permission or acknowledgment.
- You may escape a copyright violation with something like a warning, but it damages your reputation among your audience.
- Violating copyrights can lead to platforms removing your content and shadow-banning you. This causes decreased reach and is bad for your online presence.
You may face these and more repercussions if you violate any copyright terms related to online images. So, how can one find copyright holders and cite them properly? Let’s find out.
Methods to Identify Copyrights of an Image
There are several ways to find out the copyrights of an image online. Some easy and reliable methods are discussed below.
1. Check the Website
If you find an image from a website, finding the source or owner of the image is rather simple. You just have to find the section on the webpage where the author has been given credits. Here, you can see who created or clicked the image. This way, you can identify the copyrights regarding an image.
2. Reverse Image Search
If you find an image randomly and are unable to find the author of the image, you can use an online image finder tool. This tool reverse searches an image to help you find the source. The process is simple. It is broken down into steps here:
1. Head to an image finder tool and upload your image.
2. Select one of the search engines where you want to find the image source.
3. This will redirect you to the particular search engine result page.
This results page shows images similar to the one you just uploaded. Most of the time, it shows exact matches. This way, you can get multiple sources with your image. You can search on one of these sources to find the copyright owner of the image.
3. Watermarks
The simplest way of identifying the copyrights of an image is by looking for watermarks. A watermark is a sign or mark over an image that shows which person or organization is the image's creator. This allows you to identify the owner of an image in just a few seconds.
The problem, however, is that not all images have watermarks over them. However, this doesn’t mean they are free to use. In that case, you have to use one of the other methods. But if the watermark is present, then you don’t have to waste time using other methods.
4. Open Link
If you search for an image on Google, it shows you multiple images. There is an option to simply open one of them and save them on your device. However, if you want to know the copyrights of that image, you have to make your way to its source. You can do this very easily.
1. Search for something on Google.
2. Click on one of the images in the results.
3. Right-click on the image and select “Open Link in New Tab.”
This will take you to the image's source website. Here, you can usually find the copyright information of the image.
No Copyright Image Websites
As we have mentioned before, some images on the internet are free to use. These are called royalty-free or Creative Commons images. Using such images is an easy alternative as they don’t require searching for copyright owners.
There are several websites that store such images so that users can find them and use them in their own works without any citation. Some examples of such websites are:
Similarly, if you create your own image, you hold its copyright. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about using this image without citation or acknowledgment.
FAQs
Some frequently asked questions related to this topic are given below.
1. Can you use pictures from the Internet without permission?
No, you can’t use any image from the Internet without the permission of the creator or without referencing them. You have to properly cite copyrighted images before using them in your own content.
2. How to find the source of an image on Google?
There are various ways to find the source of an image. This includes reverse image searching, using tools like Google Lens, or going to the link associated with an online image.
3. What happens if I use copyrighted images?
There are various penalties that you can face for using unoriginal images. This can range from a warning from the original author to facing a judge in court.
Conclusion
In today’s digital world, respecting image copyrights is much more than just a legal requirement. It’s about honoring creativity. Every image has a creator, and giving them credit builds trust and shows integrity.
Simple steps like using reverse image searches, checking watermarks, or opting for royalty-free platforms make it easy to stay ethical. By doing so, you protect your work, earn your audience’s respect, and contribute to a fairer, more creative online space.