Protecting your images online: copyright basics for artists

This is general information, not legal advice, and the details vary from country to country. You own the copyright from the moment you make the work - In the more than 180 countries that belong to the Berne Convention, copyright arises automatically when the work is created. You do not have to register it or mark it with a copyright symbol. - In the United States, registering with the Copyright Office is required before you can sue over a US work, and registering early makes extra damages available. Elsewhere, registration is usually optional or does not exist. - In most countries, selling the physical artwork does not transfer the copyright unless you agree otherwise in writing. A buyer owns the painting; you keep the right to reproduce it. Practical protection - Upload web-sized images, large enough to look good on screen but not to print at full size. - A small, discreet watermark or signature can deter casual copying. Large watermarks mostly deter buyers. - Keep your original files with their metadata. They are your proof of authorship. - Use a reverse image search such as Google Lens or TinEye now and then to see where your images appear. If you find your work used without permission, contact the site or platform hosting it; most have a reporting process for copyright. On this platform, use the contact page or the route described under "Reporting content" in our Terms of Service, and we will look at it promptly. Have you dealt with copying of your work? What worked?