The digital age has made sharing photos easier than ever – and unfortunately, stealing them too. Here are the most important image theft statistics every photographer and content creator should know.

The Numbers Are Staggering

• 85% of images uploaded to the internet are used without permission or proper licensing
• 64% of photographers have experienced image theft at least once
• 6.5 million infringing files are identified monthly by major copyright owners
• 30,000+ websites receive DMCA takedown notices each month

DMCA and Copyright Claims

According to recent data:

• Images account for 23% of all DMCA takedown requests
• Video content: 19% of takedowns
• Text content: 18% of takedowns
• 729 cases were filed with the Copyright Claims Board in early 2024

The Financial Impact

Image theft directly impacts photographers’ income:

• 15% of photographers who pursued infringers earned over $1,000 in damages
• Statutory damages in the US can reach $150,000 per willful infringement
• The Copyright Claims Board handles disputes up to $30,000

Why Most Theft Goes Unpunished

Despite the scale of the problem, most image theft goes unaddressed because:

• Photographers don’t know their images have been stolen
• Legal action seems too expensive or complicated
• Manual monitoring is impossibly time-consuming
• Many believe it’s “not worth the effort”

Automated Monitoring Changes Everything

Services like Copyident have made image protection accessible to everyone:

• AI-powered scanning monitors the entire web 24/7
• No upfront costs – pay only when compensation is recovered
• Legal network operates in 120+ countries
• You keep 55% of recovered damages

Protect Your WordPress Images

If you use WordPress or WooCommerce, the free Jokerist Stolen Photo Tracker plugin makes uploading to Copyident effortless. Bulk upload your entire media library and let automated monitoring do the rest.

Don’t be part of the statistic. Start protecting your images today.