The US Copyright Office Database is not the only way to search for an image's copyright status.

You can also use online tools like TinEye, which provides a list of websites where an image appears, which can help track down its original source and potential copyright information.

Also worth reading: How do I ensure AI product image copyright compliance in 2026? · What are the current AI image copyright registration requirements in 2026 for businesses using generative models? · How to copyright a video online for free in 2026?

Metadata is the hidden information in a digital file, and checking it could reveal the name of the copyright owner and even a full copyright notice.

Not every image has copyright information in its metadata.

Therefore, it's important to always verify the copyright status of an image before using it.

Google's reverse image search can help identify the original source of an image, which could give you clues about the image's copyright status.

Online tools like Pixsy can help you check the metadata of an image and find the name of the copyright owner and even a full copyright notice.

You can search public databases and copyright registries in your country to check the copyright status of an image.

Flicker's licensing options can help you find images with specific licensing terms, such as Creative Commons-licensed images.

You can obtain permission from the copyright owner if you wish to use a copyrighted image.