Stock Photos

Are Stock Photos Copyrighted? (And How to Find Truly Copyright Free Stock Photos)

Thomas Choi30 Jan 2025 • 7 min read

Are Stock Photos Copyrighted? (And How to Find Truly Copyright Free Stock Photos)

You might be using free stock images from websites like Unsplash or Pexels, but have you ever wondered—are stock photos really free to use? Many content creators assume that if an image is available for free download, they can use it however they like. However, that’s not always the case.As Richard Serra famously said in 1973, "If something is free, you are the product." Some stock images are uploaded without the creator’s knowledge, and using them without proper permission could lead to copyright infringement—even if they came from a "free" stock photo website.So, are stock photos copyrighted? What are the rules for using stock photos legally? And most importantly, how can you find truly copyright-free images for your videos and content?In this guide, we’ll answer all your questions about stock image copyrights, show you how to find and use royalty-free stock footage, and help you avoid potential legal issues.<h2 id="common-myths-about-free-stock-photos">Common Myths About Free Stock Photos</h2>Before we dive into stock photo copyrights, let’s clear up some common misconceptions that often lead to copyright issues. Many people assume that if an image is available online, it’s free to use—but that’s not always the case. Here are some of the biggest myths about stock photos:<h4 id="%F0%9F%9B%91-myth-1-if-its-on-google-i-can-use-it-for-free">🛑 Myth #1: "If It's on Google, I Can Use It for Free"</h4>✅ Reality: Just because an image appears in Google search results doesn’t mean it's copyright-free. Google is a search engine—it doesn’t own the rights to the images it displays. Most images you find through a basic Google search are protected by copyright laws, and using them without permission can lead to legal trouble.💡 How to stay safe? Use Google’s Creative Commons License filter (under "Tools" > "Usage Rights") to find images that are explicitly labeled for reuse. However, always check the licensing terms before using any image.⭐️ Pro tip: Filter out the images as per license in "Search Web Image" option on Jupitrr AI to find a safe to use image from Google. <figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/image-12.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="986" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2025/01/image-12.png 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1000/2025/01/image-12.png 1000w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1600/2025/01/image-12.png 1600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w2400/2025/01/image-12.png 2400w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"></figure><h4 id="%F0%9F%9B%91-myth-2-if-the-image-doesn%E2%80%99t-have-a-watermark-it%E2%80%99s-free">🛑 Myth #2: "If the Image Doesn’t Have a Watermark, It’s Free"</h4>✅ Reality: A missing watermark does not mean an image is free to use. Many copyrighted images do not have visible watermarks, but they are still protected by intellectual property laws.💡 How to stay safe? Always download images from legitimate stock photo websites that specify usage rights, such as Pexels, but even then, check the license details carefully.⭐️ Pro tip: You can get free premium images and videos from iStock and Getty for free by using Jupitrr AI.<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/image-13.png" class="kg-image" alt="" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="986" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2025/01/image-13.png 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1000/2025/01/image-13.png 1000w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1600/2025/01/image-13.png 1600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w2400/2025/01/image-13.png 2400w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"></figure><div class="kg-card kg-button-card kg-align-center"><a href="https://jupitrr.com/pricing?ref=jupitrr.ghost.io" class="kg-btn kg-btn-accent">Upgrade your Plan to access Free iStock Images</a></div><h4 id="%F0%9F%9B%91-myth-3-free-stock-image-websites-guarantee-100-safety">🛑 Myth #3: "Free Stock Image Websites Guarantee 100% Safety"</h4>✅ Reality: While free stock image websites offer free stock images, they don’t always verify whether an uploader owns the rights to an image. This means you could still face copyright claims if the original creator decides to take action.💡 How to stay safe? To minimize risk:<ul><li>Stick to images with CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) licenses, which allow unrestricted use.</li><li>Use premium stock photo websites that offer legal protection, like iStock or Getty Images.</li><li>Consider creating your own images or using Jupitrr AI to add B-roll images to your content.</li></ul><h2 id="are-stock-photos-copyrighted">Are Stock Photos Copyrighted?</h2><figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2024/04/Screenshot-of-a-stock-image-website---Unsplash.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="Screenshot of a stock image website" loading="lazy" width="1888" height="814" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2024/04/Screenshot-of-a-stock-image-website---Unsplash.jpg 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1000/2024/04/Screenshot-of-a-stock-image-website---Unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1600/2024/04/Screenshot-of-a-stock-image-website---Unsplash.jpg 1600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2024/04/Screenshot-of-a-stock-image-website---Unsplash.jpg 1888w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"><figcaption>Screenshot of a stock image website</figcaption></figure>Yes, most stock photos are copyrighted unless explicitly stated otherwise. When you download a stock image—whether from a free or paid source—you are not actually owning the image but rather acquiring a license that dictates how you can use it.If you use a stock photo without permission or proper licensing, you risk copyright infringement, which can lead to legal issues such as takedown notices, fines, or lawsuits.<h4 id="%F0%9F%93%9D-types-of-stock-photo-licenses">📝 Types of Stock Photo Licenses</h4>Not all stock images come with the same rights. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of stock photo licenses:✅ Royalty-Free (RF)<ul><li>Pay once, use multiple times without extra fees.</li><li>No need to pay royalties for each use.</li><li>Can be used for commercial and personal projects, but restrictions may apply.</li></ul>✅ Rights-Managed (RM)<ul><li>Licensing terms depend on specific usage conditions (e.g., duration, region, industry).</li><li>Cannot be reused for multiple projects unless you purchase additional rights.</li><li>Often used for exclusive or high-quality commercial content.</li></ul>✅ Editorial Use Only<ul><li>Can be used in news articles, blogs, and documentaries but not for advertising or promotional content.</li><li>Commonly applies to images of celebrities, events, or brands.</li></ul>✅ Creative Commons (CC)<ul><li>Free to use under specific conditions. Some licenses require attribution to the creator.</li><li>CC0 (Creative Commons Zero): No attribution needed, completely free to use.</li><li>CC BY (Attribution): You must give credit to the creator.</li><li>CC BY-ND (No Derivatives): Cannot be edited or modified.</li></ul><h2 id="how-to-find-copyright-free-stock-photos-on-google">How to find Copyright-Free Stock Photos on Google?</h2>Your first move while looking for a stock photo might be to Google a search term and go to the image section. While you do find a lot of relevant images there, it does not guarantee that all of them are copyright-free. In fact, most of the photos are protected and you can get a copyright notice for using them. A good way to filter copyright-free images from Google is to click on “Tools” and select “Creative Common License” from the Usage Right dropdown. You will find a lot of images here. <figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/How-to-find-Copyright-Free-CC-and-Commercial-license-images-in-Google.gif" class="kg-image" alt="How to find Copyright Free CC and Commercial license images in Google" loading="lazy" width="1120" height="630" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2025/01/How-to-find-Copyright-Free-CC-and-Commercial-license-images-in-Google.gif 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1000/2025/01/How-to-find-Copyright-Free-CC-and-Commercial-license-images-in-Google.gif 1000w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/How-to-find-Copyright-Free-CC-and-Commercial-license-images-in-Google.gif 1120w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"><figcaption>How to find Copyright Free CC and Commercial license images in Google</figcaption></figure>However, you need to know that these images are not totally free for all uses. They have their own terms of how you can use them and require you to give credit to the creator in a specific way. You can check their CC license usually available on the image’s source. <h2 id="websites-to-find-copyright-free-stock-photos">Websites to find Copyright-free Stock Photos?</h2>There are a plethora of sites that provide free stock images, like:<ul><li>Pexels</li><li>Unsplash</li><li>Pixabay</li><li>Freepik</li><li>StockSnap</li><li>FreeImages</li><li>PikWizard</li><li>PicJumbo</li></ul>HOWEVER, there were many cases where the users received copyright notices from the creators.<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/are-stock-photos-copyrighted---Company-replies-on-copyright-notice-user-gets.jpg" class="kg-image" alt="A stock image company replied this when a user received a copyright notice from the creator of the image" loading="lazy" width="2000" height="1125" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2025/01/are-stock-photos-copyrighted---Company-replies-on-copyright-notice-user-gets.jpg 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1000/2025/01/are-stock-photos-copyrighted---Company-replies-on-copyright-notice-user-gets.jpg 1000w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w1600/2025/01/are-stock-photos-copyrighted---Company-replies-on-copyright-notice-user-gets.jpg 1600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2025/01/are-stock-photos-copyrighted---Company-replies-on-copyright-notice-user-gets.jpg 2240w" sizes="(min-width: 720px) 720px"><figcaption>A stock image company replied this when a user received a copyright notice from the creator of the image</figcaption></figure>Hence, it is not guaranteed that you won't get a copyright issue with these sites. But there is a better way to add copyright-free images to your video. Keep reading!<h2 id="can-you-add-copyright-free-stock-images-to-your-video">Can you add Copyright-free Stock Images to your Video?</h2>In most cases, if you have the right to use any stock image, you can use it anywhere including videos. As copyright-free images are often labeled as being in the public domain or released under a Creative Commons license that permits unrestricted use, you can legally use these images in your picture. However, you need to ensure that the images you use are genuinely copyright-free and that you comply with any terms and conditions associated with their use. The best way to add genuinely copyright-free images to your video is to use Jupitrr.Jupitrr uses copyright-free images from platforms like Pexels and it is easy to add them to your video. All you need to do is:<figure class="kg-card kg-image-card kg-card-hascaption"><img src="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2024/04/Add-B-rolls-using-Jupitrr-2.gif" class="kg-image" alt="You can add stock images to your videos using Jupitrr AI" loading="lazy" width="636" height="480" srcset="https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/size/w600/2024/04/Add-B-rolls-using-Jupitrr-2.gif 600w, https://jupitrr.ghost.io/content/images/2024/04/Add-B-rolls-using-Jupitrr-2.gif 636w"><figcaption>You can add stock images to your videos using Jupitrr AI</figcaption></figure><ul><li>Go to <a href="https://jupitrr.com/product/ai-video-generator?ref=jupitrr.ghost.io">Jupitrr’s AI Video</a></li><li>Upload your video</li><li>Highlight the part where you want to add the image</li><li>Click on “Generate image” </li></ul>Jupitrr uses AI to find the most relevant image and seamlessly add it to your video. If you do not like the image, you can change it either by clicking on “Generate again” or by providing your own keyword after clicking “Generate again with another keyword.”<h2 id="what-would-happen-if-you-use-stock-photos-without-permission">What would happen if you use Stock Photos without Permission?</h2>Now, let's understand what would happen if you use a stock photo without permission. Stock photos are copyrighted material, just like any other creative work. Using them without proper permission is copyright infringement.Some of the major consequences of doing so would be:<ul><li>Removal of content: The first step in such cases is to receive an informal notice from the owner of the content which asks you to remove the video, blog, website, social media post, or any other content that you have used the picture for. However, this is not always the case and you can receive a formal letter instead as well.</li><li>Cease and desist letters: You may receive a cease and desist letter demanding that you stop using the infringing material immediately. If you do not comply with it, there can be further legal action.</li><li>Legal action: The copyright holder or their representatives may pursue legal action against you for copyright infringement. This can result in financial penalties, including statutory damages and reimbursement of legal fees.</li></ul>Countries take copyright issues very seriously, especially in the US and Europe. Hence, it is not advisable to use stock photos without permission.<h2 id="do-you-have-to-credit-all-stock-photos">Do you have to Credit all Stock Photos?</h2>If you are using any copyright-free stock image, there are 4 possible CC License:<ul><li>CC0 (CC-Zero) or Public Domain: If an image is in the public domain, meaning it's not under copyright protection, you typically don't have to provide attribution. However, it's still a good practice to acknowledge the source out of respect for the creator. A subtle difference between CC0 and Public Domain images is that CC0 images are free to use but protected by the law, while Public Domain images are not protected by at all.</li><li>CC BY (Attribution): If the stock image has a CC BY license, you must give appropriate credit to the creator, including their name and a link to the source, unless the creator has waived the attribution requirement.</li><li>CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike): This license is similar to CC BY, but if you remix, transform, or build upon the image, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.</li><li>CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivs): With this license, you can use the image for any purpose, but you cannot remix, transform, or build upon it, and you must provide appropriate credit.</li></ul>Do check before using the stock image what license are they providing. <h2 id="final-words">Final Words</h2>Free Stock Photos can be hard to find. You should check the license it is providing, which determines the use of the photo. But to save yourself from all that hassle, you can just use Jupitrr to add copyright-free stock images to your videos.<div class="kg-card kg-button-card kg-align-center"><a href="https://jupitrr.com/product/ai-video-generator?ref=jupitrr.ghost.io" class="kg-btn kg-btn-accent">Try adding copyright free Stock Photos to your Videos</a></div>