Who is PicRights ?
PicRights Europe GmbH (based in Switzerland) and PicRights International Inc. are companies that claim to monitor and enforce the copyright of photographs online.
They act on behalf of their clients—mainly news agencies, photo agencies, and media groups—to identify allegedly unauthorized use of images on websites.
Some of their well-known clients include:
- news agencies: Reuters, Associated Press (AP), AFP,
- photo agencies and stock libraries: Biosphoto, PhotoNonStop, DesignPics, SciencePhoto, PA Images, dpa Picture Alliance, Reporters Associati & Archivi, Roger-Viollet
- media groups: Lagardère News, Redux Pictures, and others
PicRights often works with law firms in different countries, including France, Spain, Italy, the UK, Canada and the US, to pursue claims if website owners do not pay voluntarily.
How does a PicRights claim look?
Website owners often receive an email from PicRights Europe GmbH or PicRights International Inc., using addresses such as Resolve@picrights.com or Resolve[CC]@picrights.com.
The emails usually state that:
- PicRights has detected an image on your website that allegedly belongs to one of their clients.
- They provide a screenshot of the image and how it was used on your website.
- You are invited to visit a Resolve portal (resolve.picrights.com) with a personal reference number and password.
- You are asked to either: provide a valid licence, or remove the image and pay a settlement amount.
Importantly, the emails usually warn that removing the image alone is not enough: they demand financial compensation for past use.
This explains why many people search online for questions like: is picrights legitimate? is picrights a scam? should i pay picrights? can i ignore picrights?
How much does PicRights demand?
If you cannot provide proof of a licence, PicRights usually demands a settlement fee. Amounts can range from a few hundred to several thousand euros (or dollars), depending on the image and the client.
If you do not respond or refuse to pay, PicRights may escalate the matter by involving a law firm. In some cases, they send formal cease-and-desist letters (letters of demand) and may even initiate court proceedings.
Are PicRights’ demands always justified?
No. Each case must be assessed individually.
Possible legal defenses may include:
- the photo lacks the required originality to be protected under copyright law
- the use falls under a copyright exception (for example, quotation or reporting news)
- you already had a valid licence
- PicRights or its client may lack standing to sue
Copyright laws are not the same in every country. In many European countries, protection for photographs requires that the work demonstrate a sufficient level of originality or creative input. Courts regularly examine whether the photographer’s personal choices go beyond purely technical execution. In the United States, copyright also requires a minimum level of creativity, even if the threshold is generally considered lower.
Ultimately, only a court in the relevant jurisdiction can determine whether a particular photograph qualifies for protection and whether infringement has occurred. Until then, PicRights’ claims remain allegations, not judicial findings.
Should you pay PicRights or defend yourself?
Even if the unauthorized use is real, the amount claimed is often negotiable or contestable.
- PicRights’ demand is not a fine imposed by law, but a settlement request.
- The sums requested are often much higher than standard licence fees for the same images.
- You should never pay without legal advice.
However, completely ignoring PicRights’ letters can be risky. While some cases never go to court, others are escalated to law firms and may result in lawsuits.
Legal advice on PicRights letters
The level of risk depends on each individual case, and it is up to a lawyer to assess whether litigation is likely or not.
Our law firm, experienced in copyright litigation, regularly handles cases involving PicRights Europe GmbH and PicRights International Inc., both at the pre-litigation stage and in court.
You can send us any letters or emails received from PicRights for a first free review at: nb@bressand-avocat.fr