How can I verify the copyright status of images used on a corporate website?

Verifying the copyright status of images requires a multi-step forensic analysis of metadata and licensing documentation. You should first inspect the Exchangeable Image File Format (EXIF) data using a metadata extraction tool to identify embedded copyright tags, creator contact information, and usage terms. If the image lacks metadata, a reverse image search through indexed databases can help trace the original source and identify any registered copyright claims with the U.S. Copyright Office or equivalent national registries. For images marked with a Creative Commons license, you must validate the specific license variant (e.g., CC BY-NC 4.0) against the official Creative Commons deed to confirm whether commercial use or derivative works are permitted. The absence of a visible notice does not signify public domain status, as copyright persists for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years in most jurisdictions.