Online image theft is often as easy as a right click or screenshot — but Flickr will now alert photographers if their image was snatched. On Tuesday, April 9,Flickr announceda partnership withPixsy, a system that alerts photographers to potential online image theft.
While image sharing platform Flickr is well-known in the photography community and out, Pixsy is a relative newcomer to the photography space. Established in 2014, Pixsy is a platform that uses artificial intelligence to scour the web for replicas of an image. When spotted, Pixsy alerts the original photographer of the potential theft.
“We want our photographers to feel comfortable sharing their work online. We offer clear controls for privacy and copyright, and we stand by our photographers in asserting their rights in the case that theft occurs,” Andrew Stadlen, vice president of product for Flickr, said in a statement. “Partnering with a company like Pixsy makes complete sense for our community and helps us deliver on what we believe is a core value for Flickr.”
Pixsy’s algorithms work to recognize the photos in their database, creating an alert system whenever a suspected theft is detected. The tool also allows photographers to list authorized use to avoid getting alerts for legal use. Pixsy also offers services for photographers that find their photos stolen, including resources for takedown notices and information about U.S. copyright registration. Pixsy also has a list of 26 partner law firms that work with photographers under a “no win, no fee” basis.
While Pixsy has only been around since 2014, the company says the platform has led to 70,000 copyright infringement cases. The platform currently boasts more than 38 million images using the tracking system.
