A professional blogger recently shared a cautionary story about the risks of using so-called "royalty-free" images online after facing two very different copyright-related challenges in 2024. The incidents highlight how tricky it can be to avoid problems even when you believe you are doing everything right.
The first warning came in March when the blogger received an email accusing him of using a photographer’s image without permission on his website. The email demanded payment in cryptocurrency to halt a legal process. Sensing a scam, he checked the facts and found the photographer was real and had won a copyright case before. After reaching out, the photographer confirmed that the email was a phishing attempt and warned that requests for bitcoin payments were scams.
Then in late May, the blogger got another email—this time from a company called PicRights International. They claimed he had posted a photo of five penguins owned by the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) without a license. PicRights demanded proof of authorization or else payment of $534 for past use. The blogger researched and found many others had faced similar claims from PicRights. Unlike the earlier scam, this one seemed legitimate. A formal letter followed, adding weight to the claim.
Although the blogger said any use of that photo was unintentional and explained he thought using images labeled as “royalty-free” meant no licensing issues, PicRights disagreed. He also reached out to the platforms hosting such images, including WordPress and Unsplash, but received no response. Interestingly, the photographer who uploaded the disputed photo to Unsplash identified herself as a professional wildlife photographer but stopped responding when told about PicRights’ claim.
In the end, the blogger settled the fee with PicRights after a small discount, despite feeling the situation was unfair. He deleted all images from his site that came from WordPress’s library to avoid future problems.
This experience sheds light on a growing problem for website owners and content creators. Just because images are labeled “license-free” on popular platforms doesn’t always mean they’re free of copyright issues. Companies like PicRights use technology to scan the internet and pursue unauthorized use, sometimes hitting individuals with expensive fees.
The blogger points out that insurance could potentially cover copyright infringement claims, but questions whether it’s worth filing for smaller claims due to deductibles and costs. Instead, he chose to manage the risk by removing questionable images and being extra careful moving forward.
He also wonders about the ethics of targeting small users in such cases—while legally allowed, is it truly fair or right?
For anyone running a website or sharing content online, this story is a reminder to double-check the origins of images and licenses used. It might save trouble and money in the long run. And if you’ve faced similar challenges, the blogger invites you to share your story—it’s something more people should talk about.