Atlantic Image Defense LLC
February 9, 2024
05 min read
Photographers who sell through stock platforms should keep contributor records, upload dates, licensing notes and original files. Good records make later verification much easier.
Atlantic Image Defense LLC encourages creators to document the facts carefully before any platform notice, licensing discussion or legal handoff. A structured file keeps the matter clear and gives each next step a professional foundation.
Keep the evidence factual and easy to trace: screenshots, URLs, original files, publication dates, contributor records, licence notes and a concise chronology. Together, these elements reduce uncertainty and make a responsible review easier.
Stock distribution can create complex chains. A contributor may own the copyright while the platform administers licences and the end user receives permission under standardized terms. Good records help separate those roles.
Maintain original files, export variants, internal identifiers, upload dates, titles, keywords and platform asset IDs. Preserve proof of the account that submitted the work and any agency or employment relationship.
If an image is removed or made exclusive, record the effective date and the platform confirmation.
Keep the applicable platform terms and licence version where available. A user may have downloaded the image under older terms, a subscription, an enterprise agreement or through a reseller.
Do not assume that a missing royalty line proves no licence; platform reporting and customer disclosure practices vary.
Preserve the metadata included in the submitted file and the metadata displayed by the platform. Changes can be relevant, but the legal significance depends on knowledge, conduct and jurisdiction.
Attribution requirements are contractual in many stock licences and may differ from copyright ownership.
Record the observed use, then search the platform, agency and personal archives before escalating. Ask whether the use could have originated from a valid historical licence.
If the distribution chain cannot be resolved, classify the matter as uncertain and request further information.
These links point to official or institutional sources. Their inclusion does not mean that every text applies to every matter.
Atlantic administers rights, evidence and case-resolution workflows under documented authority. Judicial remedies and compulsory measures are pursued through competent authorities and qualified counsel where applicable.
Review licensing questions
Atlantic supports photographers and rights holders with image monitoring, evidence organization, licensing review and responsible case preparation.
Ask for a case review