When you discover your images have been stolen, you have two main options: handle enforcement yourself or use an automated service. Let’s compare both approaches.

Manual Copyright Enforcement

The Process

1. Manually search for your images using reverse image search
2. Document each instance of infringement
3. Contact the infringer or their hosting provider
4. File DMCA takedown requests
5. Pursue compensation through legal channels if desired

Pros

• Complete control over the process
• No fees or commission sharing
• Can choose which infringements to pursue

Cons

• Extremely time-consuming – searching image by image
• Limited reach – manual searches miss modified images
• Legal expertise required for pursuing compensation
• No ongoing monitoring – new theft goes unnoticed
• International enforcement is extremely difficult

Automated Services (Copyident)

The Process

1. Upload your images once
2. AI monitors the entire web 24/7
3. Review matches and mark infringements
4. Service handles all enforcement and legal work
5. Receive compensation minus commission

Pros

• No upfront costs – only pay when you get paid
• 24/7 monitoring catches theft you’d never find manually
• AI detection finds cropped, resized, and modified images
• Global legal network in 120+ countries
• Professional enforcement maximizes recovery

Cons

• Commission on recovered compensation (you keep 55%)
• Less direct control over individual cases

The Verdict

For most photographers and website owners, automated services are the clear winner. The time savings alone make it worthwhile, and the professional legal team recovers far more than most individuals could on their own.

Consider: would you rather have 100% of nothing (because you don’t have time to pursue infringers) or 55% of thousands in recovered compensation?

Easy Integration with WordPress

The Jokerist Stolen Photo Tracker plugin makes uploading to Copyident simple. Connect with one-click OAuth and bulk upload your entire media library, WooCommerce products, or blog post images.