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How to protect your photos
from theft on the Internet
Every day, thousands of images are copied without permission. Here are 5 practical methods to protect your work as a photographer or creator.
Add a visible watermark
The watermark is the first line of defence against image theft. A semi-transparent text or logo overlaid on your photo deters theft and identifies the author, even if the image is shared out of context.
Best practices:
- Place the watermark in the centre or as a tiled pattern to prevent cropping
- Use an opacity between 25% and 50% — visible without ruining the image
- Include your name, website or © symbol
Register your photos legally
A watermark provides visual protection, but does not constitute legal proof. To prove that you are the author in the event of a dispute, register your photos with a timestamped deposit service.
The deposit generates a certificate with a SHA-256 hash, timestamp and verifiable QR code — admissible evidence in the event of a dispute.
Recommended
Copyright01 allows you to register your photos with a timestamped certificate, a SHA-256 hash and a verifiable QR code.
Preserve EXIF metadata
The EXIF data in your original files — date taken, camera, GPS coordinates — provide additional evidence of authorship.
Always keep your RAW or unmodified original files in a safe place. This metadata can make the difference in the event of a dispute.
Use reverse image search
Tools such as Google Images, TinEye or Copytrack allow you to search where your photos appear online.
Carry out regular checks — at least once a month — to detect unauthorised uses of your work.
Publish at reduced resolution
On social media and your portfolio, publish versions at lower resolution (1200-2000 px). This makes unauthorised commercial use difficult, while keeping sufficient quality for web display.
Always keep your high-resolution files locally — they will serve as proof of originality.
The double protection
The most effective strategy combines visual protection and legal protection.
Register the original to prove your ownership with a timestamped certificate.
Register a certificateProtect your images now
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