A copyright complaint about an image on your website can be alarming, especially when you're not sure where the image came from or whether the claim is even valid. The good news is that this is a fixable situation if you work through it calmly and in the right order. This post walks you through what to do, step by step.
A note before we start: this is general information to help you respond sensibly, not legal advice. For any serious, escalating, or money-demanding claim, get advice from a qualified professional in your jurisdiction. For how Picdrome handles its own images, see the Picdrome Image License.
First: three things not to do
When a notice lands in your inbox, your instinct might pull you in one of three unhelpful directions. Resist all three.
- Don't panic. Most complaints are resolvable. Reacting emotionally leads to rushed replies you can't take back.
- Don't ignore it. A complaint that goes unanswered can escalate to your web host, your platform, or further. Silence rarely makes it go away.
- Don't admit fault. Avoid saying "you're right, I stole it" or "sorry, I had no license." You may not actually be in the wrong, and an admission can complicate things later. Acknowledge that you've received the notice and that you're looking into it. That's enough for now.
A calm, factual first reply ("Thank you, I've received your message and I'm reviewing it") buys you time without conceding anything.
Assess the complaint: what is it actually saying?
Read the notice carefully before doing anything else. Complaints vary enormously in seriousness and legitimacy.
Work out the basics:
- Who is contacting you? The claimed rights-holder, a law firm, an agency acting on their behalf, or an automated takedown service?
- Which image are they referring to? Get the exact file and the page it's on. Vague complaints that don't identify a specific image are hard to act on and worth a polite request for specifics.
- What are they asking for? Common requests are: remove the image, pay a license fee, or pay a settlement. These are very different asks, and the right response depends on which one it is.
- Do they actually hold the rights? Some complaints are legitimate. Some are mistaken. Some are templated demands sent in bulk hoping you'll pay quickly. Being asked to pay is not proof that you owe anything.
You don't have to resolve the legitimacy question instantly. The point of this step is to understand the claim well enough to decide your next move.
Decide: take down, replace, or keep while you investigate
Once you understand the ask, decide what to do with the image right now. There's no single correct answer, but here's a way to think about it.
| Situation | Reasonable first move |
|---|---|
| You can't find any record that you had rights to the image | Take it down or replace it while you investigate |
| You sourced it somewhere with murky or expired terms | Replace it with an image whose terms are clear |
| You have a clear license or source record for it | Keep it up, but gather your documentation before responding |
| The complaint demands money and is escalating | Get professional advice before removing or replying further |
Taking an image down while you look into things is often the calmest option. Removing or replacing an image is not an admission of guilt; it's a practical step that reduces ongoing exposure while you sort out the facts. If the complaint is legitimate, you've stopped the issue continuing. If it isn't, you've lost nothing but a graphic you can swap back or substitute.
This is the fastest part to fix. You can pull a clean replacement from Picdrome's free packs in minutes, drop it into the same page slot, and keep your site looking finished while the rest of this plays out. Picdrome images are AI-generated and come with the Picdrome Image License, so you have a clear record of what you're allowed to do with them.
Document everything
Whatever you decide, start a simple record now. If the matter escalates, this file is what protects you. If it doesn't, you've lost twenty minutes.
Gather and save:
- Where you got the image. The site, the marketplace, the builder's stock library, the AI tool, or wherever it came from.
- The license or terms that applied when you used it, ideally a saved copy or screenshot, not just a link that might change.
- Dates. When you downloaded or generated it, and when you published it.
- Any receipts or account records if you paid for it or downloaded it from an account.
- All correspondence about the complaint, kept in full and in order. Don't delete messages.
If you genuinely have no idea where an image came from, that's useful to know too. It tells you the image was higher-risk, and it informs how cautiously you respond. A sourcing process (covered below) prevents this gap next time.
Respond appropriately
With the facts in front of you, you can reply more substantively than your first holding message. Keep it factual and measured. State what you've done (for example, that the image has been removed) without conceding liability you may not have. If you have a clear license, you can say so and share your documentation.
Some practical cautions:
- Don't agree to pay anything on the spot. A demand for money deserves careful thought, not a fast click.
- Don't sign anything or accept terms you don't understand.
- Keep your tone professional even if the complaint feels aggressive.
When to get professional help
Get advice from a qualified legal professional if any of these apply:
- The complaint demands a significant payment or a settlement.
- It references court action, formal legal procedure, or specific statutes.
- It's escalating, or you're being contacted by a law firm.
- You're simply unsure and the stakes feel high.
The mechanics of formal takedown procedures, response deadlines, and what counts as a typical settlement vary by country and by the specifics of the claim, and they change over time. Don't rely on half-remembered rules or general internet advice (including this post) for a serious claim. A professional who knows your jurisdiction is worth the cost when real money or legal exposure is involved.
To be clear: working through these steps does not guarantee the complaint goes away or that any particular outcome follows. It helps you respond sensibly and keep good records. The outcome depends on the facts and, where relevant, on professional advice.
If the image was from Picdrome
If the complaint concerns an image you got from Picdrome, or you want to report a rights concern about a Picdrome image, use the contact and report image rights page. Include the specific image, the page it's on, and the details of the complaint so it can be looked into properly. The Picdrome Image License set out what the images may be used for and the basis on which they're provided. Picdrome images are AI-generated and free to use for personal and commercial website projects, subject to those terms.
Prevent a repeat: a sourcing and pre-publish process
The best way to never repeat this is to make image sourcing boring and traceable. A light process is enough.
- Source from places with clear terms. Know what license applies before an image goes on a page, and save a copy of it.
- Keep a simple log. A spreadsheet with the image, where it came from, the license, and the date covers most of what you'd ever need to show.
- Avoid mystery images. If you can't say where something came from or what terms apply, don't publish it. That habit alone prevents most complaints. Pulling an image straight from search results is one of the riskier ways to source, which we cover in is it risky to just Google an image?
- Run a quick check before you publish. A two-minute review at publish time catches problems before they're live. See a quick image rights check before you publish
For the bigger picture, how to avoid copyright and trademark trouble and our pillar guide on using free and AI-generated images safely explain how to keep your whole image library on solid footing from the start.
When you need a clean replacement fast, Picdrome's free packs let you swap a flagged image and keep moving, and the pre-publish rights check helps make sure the next one doesn't trip the same wire.
In Plain English
If you get a copyright complaint about a website image, this is a calm response playbook for non-lawyers. It helps anyone running a small business website who's facing (or worried about) a takedown notice. Use it the moment a complaint arrives, before you reply in haste. Don't panic, don't ignore it, and don't admit fault. Read the notice and work out what it's really asking. Take the image down or replace it while you investigate (use a replacement only after confirming its current license). Gather your records: source, license, dates, and all correspondence. Respond factually, and get professional advice for anything serious or escalating. Then set up a simple sourcing log and a pre-publish check so it doesn't happen again. This is general information, not legal advice; for serious claims, talk to a qualified professional, and see the Picdrome Image License for how Picdrome's own images are provided.
Common Questions
Should I just take the image down straight away?
Often yes, as a practical step while you investigate. Removing or replacing an image isn't an admission of fault; it reduces ongoing exposure and is easy to reverse. Just make sure you also document where the image came from before you forget.
Does removing the image make the complaint go away?
Not necessarily. Some complainants want a license fee or settlement regardless of whether you've removed the image. Removing it is sensible, but it doesn't guarantee the matter is closed. For anything involving money or escalation, get professional advice.
Do I need a lawyer for every complaint?
No. Many complaints are simple requests to remove an image and end there. Bring in a qualified professional when the claim demands significant payment, references legal action, is escalating, or whenever the stakes feel high and you're unsure.