After a period in beta, Google has now launched its new features on Image Search to highlight and clarify usage rights.
“Licensable” badge
Images where licensing information has been provided will be labelled with a “Licensable” badge on the results page. Clicking on the image will show a link to license details, and where the creator has provided it, a link to where the image can be acquired.
FIlter by licence
Google has also enhanced the Usage Rights dropdown menu so you can filter for images with Creative Commons or Commercial licenses.
These features benefit both creators and those looking for images to use by making the information clearly accessible. Image creators use structured data to submit licensing information. Google’s information page and FAQ give detailed help on how to do this.
Content marketing and well optimised content for SEO plays an increasingly important role for most businesses. These features will make life easier for publishers looking to find and correctly use images without falling foul of any licensing issues.
See also our related articles:
A guide to image optimization for SEO
How to use the Picture Superiority Effect to your advantage
