The images you post online are your intellectual property. Only you hold the complete right over who can use it and how.
But the problem is, the internet has made it easier for anyone to copy and use an image they like, without even the permission of the creator.
Therefore, instead of letting others misuse your work, you have to take timely actions to ensure your work stays protected and rightfully yours.
For this, here are some common image search methods that you can definitely try to find if someone has stolen or taken advantage of your pictures without your knowledge. So, keep reading.
6 Ways To Check If Your Images Have Been Stolen
No matter whether you are a photographer, designer, or content creator, stolen images can harm your credibility and even lead to financial losses. Use these methods to find who is using your pictures without your knowledge.
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Use Reverse Image Search Tools
You can use reverse image search tools such as Reversely.ai to effectively track where your images appear online. For this, you just have to directly upload the image or its URL on the tool. It will scan and compare it across the web to find any potential matches.
Thus, you can use this information to check where your pictures are being used without your permission. Some image search platforms only give you insights about the sources where similar images appear. While the advanced ones can even detect the edited or modified versions of the images.
So, regularly using the tools can help you spot unauthorized use of your images before it affects your credibility or integrity.
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Set Up Google Alerts
You can set up Google Alerts on images to get notified whenever your content or anything similar is searched online. Although this method is not directly linked with the image search. Still, you can use it to set alerts for image filenames, captions, or keywords associated with your photos.
However, a notable point here is that to use this method, you have to ensure your image holds some unique title or description that makes it easier to track. Let me explain. Whenever someone searches for images targeting your targeted keywords, the tool will promptly inform you.
Therefore, in my opinion, this method is best for photographers, designers, and content creators who have to regularly publish and monitor their content.
If you are curious about the alert system, then the setup method is quite simple. As I mentioned earlier, simply choose and enter keywords and select how often you want to get notified. Thus, this method indeed keeps you aware of the unauthorized usage of your content.
However, this method alone can never help you track the stolen images, so use it as a second layer of protection to stay updated.
Use Online Monitoring Services
Online monitoring services are platforms that are specially made to keep track of all the published images online. Therefore, they automatically scan images to detect unauthorized use.
In this method, you just have to enter the image in the tool, and it will give you a report on where your images appear. So, use it to find unauthorized usage, or the fraud might manipulate your intellectual property and claim ownership over it. Thus, before such misuse happens, just track it down and ask for removal or file a copyright case.
The best thing about this method is that, unlike the basic search techniques, these services provide advanced tracking features to ensure that they give you more thorough and reliable search results. So, you can even use it to detect edited, filtered, and altered images.
If you sign up for this service, it can surely make the monitoring process simpler and efficient, with no need for human input or effort. If the platform sees that someone has used your images, it directly sends the legal notices on your behalf. Thus, you can definitely rely on it to make image protection against theft easier.
Review Image Metadata
Your image’s metadata contains all the crucial and important details about the image. It usually includes details, copyright information, and the picture’s date.
Hence, if you are unsure about which image is the source, just verify it through the metadata to determine if someone has stolen your images.
Do you know the image’s metadata is also known as EXIF data? So, you can use it to verify the camera settings, location, and creator information of your image.
However, don’t expect fraudsters to overlook this point entirely, so you can anticipate, analyze, and ensure protection at every level. Thus, even if you manage to stop the infringement, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen again.
So, to effectively mark your content as plagiarized, it even helps to embed copyright details in the metadata. Although it is not a foolproof method, you can still use it to protect your images from getting stolen.
Check Watermarks
Watermarks are the visual marks that you add to an image to show your ownership over it. Therefore, when you add a logo or watermark to the image, unauthorized users can’t use it without asking for your permission or without editing or cropping it.
However, one major issue with editing the image is that it affects the image quality. It can be your name, logo, or website URL, ensuring that viewers know the original source. If someone removes or edits a watermark, it may indicate unauthorized use.
If you take my advice, then embed the metadata within the image to ensure it can’t be easily edited or removed. Hence, if someone claims ownership over their content without their permission, report them and timely claim your content.
Conclusion
Protecting your images online requires vigilance and the right tools. Ignoring image theft can cost you credibility, time, and even revenue. Stay proactive; track your images, set alerts, and use reliable monitoring services. Ownership matters, and securing your work isn’t just about recognition; it’s about maintaining control over what’s rightfully yours. Take action when needed, enforce your rights, and ensure your content remains yours.