Source Intelligence Directory

Image Source Risk Directory

Independent compliance risk profiles for every major stock photo source. Compare indemnification coverage, license gaps, model release verification, and enforcement exposure—before an agency contact forces you to learn the hard way.

Each profile is built from primary source analysis of official license terms, documented legal incidents, and enforcement patterns. Not marketing claims. Not platform self-assessments. The facts that determine whether your usage is defensible.

Source Risk Profiles

Click any source to view its full compliance risk profile including license analysis, indemnification comparison, documented incidents, and a step-by-step action plan.

Unsplash

Medium-High RiskCustom Unsplash License (NOT Creative Commons)

Type: Free Stock Photo Platform (Getty Images subsidiary)

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Shutterstock

Medium RiskStandard ($10K indemnification) / Enhanced ($250K indemnification) / Editorial ($25K indemnification)

Type: Paid Stock Photo and Video Licensing Platform (NYSE: SSTK)

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Google Images

High RiskNone -- Google Images provides no license, indemnification, or usage rights

Type: Search Engine (Image Indexing -- NOT a Stock Photo Platform or Licensor)

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Pexels

Medium-High RiskCustom Pexels License (free, no attribution required for standard downloads)

Type: Free Stock Photo & Video Platform (Canva subsidiary)

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Pixabay

Medium-High RiskContent License (renamed from Pixabay License, April 2023; CC0 for pre-Jan 2019 content)

Type: Free Stock Photo, Video, Music & Sound Effects Platform (Canva subsidiary)

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iStock

Medium RiskStandard ($10K indemnification) / Extended ($250K indemnification) / Editorial (no model releases)

Type: Paid Stock Photo and Media Licensing Platform (Getty Images subsidiary)

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Getty Images

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Creative) / Rights-Managed (Editorial) / Free Embed (Non-Commercial)

Type: Premium Commercial Stock Photo and Video Marketplace

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Adobe Stock

Medium RiskStandard ($10K indemnification, 500K copy limit) / Enhanced ($10K, unlimited copies) / Extended ($10K, merchandise rights) / Editorial (no commercial use)

Type: Paid Stock Photo, Video, and Creative Asset Licensing Platform (Adobe Inc., NASDAQ: ADBE)

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Freepik

Medium RiskTiered License (Free: Personal Use Only / Premium+: Commercial with Secondary Element Restriction)

Type: Freemium Stock Media & AI Creative Platform

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Dreamstime

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Standard + Extended) / Editorial / CC0 Public Domain

Type: Microstock Photo Agency (Credit + Subscription Model)

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Canva

Medium RiskCanva Content License (Free Content License + Pro One Design Use License)

Type: Design Platform with Integrated Stock Content Library

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Alamy

High RiskRights-Managed (RM), Royalty-Free (RF), and Editorial-Only

Type: Stock Photography Agency (Rights-Managed, Royalty-Free, Editorial)

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Bigstock

Medium-High RiskRoyalty-Free (Standard & Extended) -- Zero Indemnification on ALL Tiers

Type: Paid Microstock Photo Agency (Shutterstock subsidiary)

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123RF

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Free / Plus / Standard / Premium) -- Tiered Indemnification from $0 to $25,000

Type: Paid Microstock Photo Agency (Inmagine Group subsidiary)

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StockPhotos.com

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Standard & Extended Licenses)

Type: Budget Royalty-Free Stock Photo Agency

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500px

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Standard & Extended via 500px Licensing / Getty Distribution) -- $10,000 Standard / $250,000 Extended Indemnification

Type: Photography Community & Licensed Stock Marketplace

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Burst by Shopify

Low RiskDual License: Creative Commons Zero (CC0) on select images; Shopify Custom License on others -- both permit free commercial use without attribution

Type: Free Stock Photo Platform (Shopify subsidiary)

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Depositphotos

Medium RiskRoyalty-Free (Standard & Extended Licenses) -- $5,000 Aggregate Indemnification Cap (Standard); Free Tier: $100 Aggregate Cap

Type: Paid Microstock Photo Agency (Vista / Cimpress subsidiary)

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Flickr

Medium-High RiskMixed: All Rights Reserved (default), CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA, CC BY-ND, CC BY-NC-ND, CC0, Public Domain Mark -- Each image has its own license

Type: Photo-Sharing Community Platform (SmugMug subsidiary)

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Icons8 Photos

Low RiskIcons8 License: Free with link-back attribution required; Paid ($13-29/mo) removes attribution -- $0 Indemnification on all tiers

Type: In-House & AI-Generated Stock Photo Platform (Icons8 ecosystem)

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Rawpixel

Medium RiskTiered: Free (attribution required), Creative/Business ($12.99-29.99/mo, no attribution), Public Domain (CC0), Editorial, AI-Generated -- $0 Indemnification on all tiers

Type: Stock Photo, Design Resource & Public Domain Art Platform

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Reshot

Low RiskReshot License (free for commercial use, no attribution required; prohibits redistribution, resale, and competing stock services)

Type: Free Curated Stock Photo, Icon & Illustration Platform

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StockSnap.io

Low RiskCreative Commons Zero (CC0) -- Public domain dedication, no attribution required, free for any use

Type: Free CC0 Stock Photo Platform

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Vecteezy

Medium RiskTiered: Free (attribution required, $500 indemnification), Pro ($7-14/mo, no attribution, $10,000), Pro Extended ($100,000) -- Bundles: $0 indemnification

Type: Stock Photo, Vector & Video Platform (Eezy Inc.)

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Wikimedia Commons

Medium RiskMixed: CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0, Public Domain, GFDL (GNU Free Documentation License), Fair Use -- Each file has its own license

Type: Free Media Repository (Wikimedia Foundation)

View Risk Profile

Full Source Intelligence Directory

A comprehensive index of stock photo sources with compliance risk assessments. Profiles are continuously added as we analyze new platforms.

Your Images Are Only as Safe as Your Documentation.

Free does not mean risk-free. Paid does not mean worry-free. The only thing that makes image usage defensible is documented provenance in a system you control.

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Legal Disclaimer

PicDefense provides forensic data and compliance risk intelligence. We are not a law firm, and this directory does not constitute legal advice. Risk assessments are based on publicly available license terms, documented enforcement patterns, and reported legal incidents. Consult a qualified intellectual property attorney for guidance on your specific situation.