13 Common Image Types That Could Get You Sued

A practical list of high-risk visuals most businesses use without realizing the legal risk.

If you run a website, you already know how much images matter. They grab attention, illustrate your product or service and build trust. What many site owners don’t realize is that images are also one of the fastest ways to trigger a legal demand. 

A marketing assistant grabs a photo from Google. A social media manager reposts a hilarious meme. A web designer uses a royalty-free image without actually reading the license. 

A month or two later, the legal demand letter or email arrives. And the amount being demanded is preposterous.

Pinterest is a discovery platform, not a free image library. Most images pinned there originate from photographers, stock agencies, brands or blogs that own the rights or are licensing them from the copyright holder. 

Downloading a photo from Pinterest and reposting it on your website without permission could result in a copyright infringement claim. It doesn’t matter if:

Unless you have a license from the copyright holder, you’re exposed. 

Risk factor: High.
Common mistake: Thinking it’s safe because “that image is all over Pinterest.” 

If you find an image on Google, it is not automatically free to use. Google Images is a search engine, not a stock agency. 

The image will almost always belong to a photographer, agency or publisher. 

Using a celebrity’s image, whether it’s a red-carpet photo, paparazzi shot or promotional still, creates two layers of risk: 

• Image copyright, which is owned by the photographer or agency. 
• Right of publicity (or the commercial use of likeness), which is controlled by the celebrity. 

Even if you license the photo properly, using a celebrity image to promote your product or service may violate publicity rights if it implies endorsement. 

That “inspirational quote” graphic with a famous actor’s face you were thinking about? Potentially actionable. 

Risk factor: Extremely high. 
Common mistake: Assuming it’s safe because “everyone’s been using this photo.” 

Using an image from Instagram, X, LinkedIn or Facebook on your own website is not automatically safe. 

Photos from major news outlets (think wire services like the Associated Press, Reuters or Getty Images) are protected by copyright. If you copy a photo from a news website or social media feed without a license, it’s almost guaranteed that you are infringing on the copyright. These agencies use automated monitoring systems and frequently issue settlement demands. Plus, they’re not shy about pursuing small publishers. There’s a common misconception that information and images on a news site are public information. The information may be. The images are not. 

Similarly, images labeled as “Editorial Use Only” (whether on an image stock site or elsewhere) mean that the image can only be used in newsworthy, commentary or informational context. Using these images in ads, on sales pages or in promotional blog posts can violate the license, even if you paid for access. Editorial means informational only: absolutely no commercial intent, however vague. 

Risk factor: High.
Common mistake: Assuming that images from news sites or “editorial only” images are automatically “free to use or share” however you like. 

This one surprises many e-commerce site owners. Let’s say you sell a coffee mug and you photograph it on a desk. In the background: a laptop with a visible Apple logo. Or a soda can. Or a designer handbag. 

That logo on the laptop, soda can or handbag is trademarked. If your image suggests affiliation, endorsement or commercial association, you could face trademark claims or takedown demands. 

Brand owners actively monitor online marketplaces for this. 

Risk factor: High.
Common mistake: Thinking, “I’m not advertising their product. I showcased my product, not theirs.” 

Memes and viral images feel like public internet folklore, but they’re not. Most are built on copyrighted photos, movie stills, stock photos or private photography. The fact that a meme or image has gone viral does not eliminate ownership or make it public domain. 

Reddit is a forum, not a rights-cleared media source. Users frequently upload content they do not own. Downloading and republishing those images transfers the legal risk directly to you. 

When a photographer’s enforcement agency comes knocking, “But it was on Reddit” won’t protect you. 

Risk factor: High. 
Common mistake: Thinking that just because an image “is all over Reddit” makes it safe. 

Not all free image sites are legitimate. Some platforms distribute images without proper contributor verification. Others may mislabel copyrighted works as public domain. 

If the uploader didn’t actually own the image, your use may still count as copyright infringement, even if you downloaded it from a free image site in good faith. Due diligence matters. 

Risk factor: High. 
Common mistake: “I got it from a free site, so I thought it was safe to use.” 

AI image generators are powerful, but they don’t eliminate risk. Their training data may include a vast amount of copyrighted data, which they use to generate images for you. 

Risk factor: High.
Common mistake: Assuming that “AI made it” means you’re safe. 

Taking a screenshot from a Netflix show, a YouTube video or a feature film and using it on your website will generally mean you’re in copyright violation. Studios actively monitor unauthorized commercial use of their content. 

Risk factor: High.
Common mistake: Believing a screenshot qualifies as “transformative” or “fair use.” 

“Royalty-free” doesn’t mean it’s free. It usually means that you pay once to use the image according to specific terms. Common license violations include: 

Many businesses incorrectly assume they can use manufacturer images, such as those that appear, for example, on Amazon. In reality: 

• The manufacturer or photographer often owns the copyright. 
• Marketplaces frequently impose usage limits. 
• Some images are licensed only for specific platforms. 

Using these images outside permitted channels can lead to a takedown notice or copyright claim. 

Risk factor: Moderate to High.
Common mistake: Thinking “We sell the product, so we can use the photo.” 

In most infringement cases, the website owner didn’t act recklessly. They acted quickly: Find an image, whack it on the website, job done. 

But image copyright enforcement is big business. Many photographers and agencies use automated tracking tools to scan the web at scale for unauthorized image use. When they find it, they usually send a settlement demand, sometimes worth thousands of dollars for a single image. 

The core problem isn’t that businesses want to infringe. It’s that they often don’t know what images they’re using on their site or where they came from. 

ImageVerifier helps website owners identify and assess the risk associated with the images they publish. Instead of guessing whether an image is safe, you can:  

• Check for potential copyright conflicts. 
• Identify high-risk images. 
• Help reduce exposure before problems arise. 

Think of it as preventive maintenance for your visual content. Because once a demand letter arrives, you’re no longer in prevention mode. You’re in damage control. 

If you publish images on your website, every image is a potential liability unless you can document your legitimate right to use it. 

Before you hit “publish,” run through this checklist: 

• Did I create this image myself? 
• Do I have a documented license, safely and accessibly stored? 
• Does it include recognizable people or brands? 
• Can I prove the source? 

If the answer to any of those questions is uncertain, consider this: The cost of checking is almost always lower than the cost of defending. And ImageVerifier helps automate the process for you. 

In the world of website publishing, a picture isn’t just worth a thousand words. It might be worth a lawsuit. 

Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Nothing on this site creates an attorney–client relationship. Copyright laws vary by situation, and you should consult a licensed copyright attorney for advice regarding your specific circumstances.