The Image Copyright API for Developers
Check images for copyright risk, find who owns them, and catch watermarks, logos, and faces before they ship. The engine behind the PicDefense platform is available as a simple REST API, billed per call with credits that never expire.
Single-signal endpoints from $2.10 per 1,000 calls.
curl -X POST https://app.picdefense.io/api/v2/checkImageRisk \
-H "X-API-TOKEN: USERID:APIKEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"url": "https://example.com/photo.jpg"}'{
"status": 1,
"message": "succeeded",
"data": [{
"picrisk": "high",
"stock": true,
"found_at": ["rabbit.co.th", "jiajia.com.au"],
"exif_copyrightHolder": "Bigstock®",
"watermark": { "detected": false }
}]
}Pick the Signal You Need
Start with the full copyright verdict or call a single detector at high volume. One key covers them all.
Copyright Risk Check API
One call returns a high/medium/low copyright risk verdict plus the evidence behind it.
/checkImageRiskWatermark Detection API
Detect visible stock and photographer watermarks and learn which agency they belong to.
/watermarkReverse Image Search API
Find every page and domain where an image appears, with a similarity score for each match.
/backlinksCopyright Metadata API
Pull EXIF copyright notices and read credit lines baked into the pixels with OCR.
/exif/textImage Recognition API
Faces, logos, landmarks, labels, and content safety, organized around what needs a release.
/logo/face/landmark/labels/safesearchTransparent Per-Call Pricing
No subscription, no monthly quota. Buy credits once and spend them on any endpoint.
| Endpoint | Credits / call | Per 1,000 calls |
|---|---|---|
POST /checkImageRiskFull copyright risk analysis with picrisk verdict and supporting evidence. | 0.80 | $56.00 – $160.00 |
POST /watermarkVisible watermark detection with source identification. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /backlinksPages, domains, and image URLs where the image appears. | 0.30 | $21.00 – $60.00 |
POST /exifEXIF metadata with copyright flag and copyright holder. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /textOCR of visible text, such as credit lines and copyright notices. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /logoDetects brand logos and names them. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /faceDetects whether a human face is present. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /landmarkDetects a recognizable landmark and names it. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /labelsDescriptive labels with confidence scores. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
POST /safesearchAdult, violence, racy, medical, and spoof likelihoods. | 0.03 | $2.10 – $6.00 |
Ranges run from the 100,000-credit pack down to the 100-credit pack. Credits are charged only on successful calls and never expire. See all credit packs on the pricing page.
First Call in Three Steps
- 1
Create an account
Sign up at app.picdefense.io and buy any credit pack. The same credits work in the dashboard and the API.
- 2
Copy your API token
Open Settings in the dashboard. Your token is your user ID and API key joined by a colon: USERID:APIKEY.
- 3
Send an image URL
POST a JSON body with a public image URL and the X-API-TOKEN header. Every endpoint uses the same request shape.
const res = await fetch("https://app.picdefense.io/api/v2/watermark", {
method: "POST",
headers: {
"X-API-TOKEN": process.env.PICDEFENSE_TOKEN, // "USERID:APIKEY"
"Content-Type": "application/json",
},
body: JSON.stringify({ url: "https://example.com/photo.jpg" }),
});
const { data } = await res.json();
if (data.watermark.detected) {
console.log("Watermark from", data.watermark.source);
}Give Your AI Agent Image Forensics
The hosted PicDefense MCP server exposes every API endpoint as a tool. Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients can check copyright risk, detect watermarks, and run reverse search on any image URL using your existing token and credits.
- Streamable HTTP endpoint:
https://mcp.picdefense.io/mcp - Local install:
npx @picdefenseio/mcp-server - Your token stays with your connection. The server holds no keys.
claude mcp add -t http picdefense "https://mcp.picdefense.io/mcp" \
--header "X-API-Token: USERID:APIKEY"Who Builds on the PicDefense API
Print-on-Demand and Marketplaces
Screen seller uploads for stock photos, watermarks, and brand logos before a design prints or a listing goes live.
CMS, DAM, and Plugin Developers
Add a copyright check to the media library so editors see risk at the moment they insert an image.
Agencies
Audit every client site from your own tooling and report risk across the whole portfolio.
Agency partner programLegal and Claim Response Teams
Check the image named in a demand letter and collect reverse-search and metadata evidence in minutes.
Demand letter defenseAPI Questions
How do I authenticate?
Send your token in the X-API-TOKEN header on every request. The token is your user ID and API key separated by a colon, and both are on the Settings page of your PicDefense dashboard.
How does billing work?
Every endpoint draws from the same prepaid credit balance. Credits are deducted only when a call succeeds, and they never expire. If your balance is too low, the API returns a 403 with an insufficient credits error.
How do I check my remaining credits?
Call GET /credits with your token. It returns your current balance.
Do I need a subscription to use the API?
No. Buy a credit pack and start calling. Site Monitoring subscriptions are separate and only needed if you want PicDefense to rescan your website automatically.
Can AI agents use the API?
Yes. The hosted PicDefense MCP server exposes every endpoint as a tool for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients, using your existing API token.
Which endpoint should I start with?
If you want a decision, start with the Copyright Risk Check API, which combines every signal into one verdict. If you need one specific signal at high volume, call that endpoint directly.
Ship Images You Can Defend
Put a copyright check in your pipeline today. Credits never expire, so you pay only for what you use.
PicDefense API results are automated, probabilistic signals intended to support your own review. They do not constitute legal advice and do not guarantee that an image is free of third-party rights. Consult a qualified attorney for decisions about copyright, trademark, or publicity rights.