Google officially announced major changes to how image search functions.
The first change is to remove Google’s “view image” button.
The second change is to remove the “search by image” button.
The impact to web publishers is expected to be positive and web publishers greeted the news on Twitter with applause. Google search users reacted negatively.
The announcement was made on Twitter by Danny Sullivan’s Twitter alias, @searchliaison.
Today we’re launching some changes on Google Images to help connect users and useful websites. This will include removing the View Image button. The Visit button remains, so users can see images in the context of the webpages they’re on. pic.twitter.com/n76KUj4ioD
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) February 15, 2018
Google Forced to Remove the View Image Button
Many web publishers disliked the view image button for a long list of reasons. But perhaps the most important reason is that many publishers felt that Google’s view image button helped content thieves steal their images.
In fact, Google may have been forced to remove the view image button as part of a settlement of a legal complaint by stock photography company, Getty Images.
In a press release Getty Images announced a “partnership” with Google. According to the announcement, Google is licensing images from Getty Images.
“This agreement between Getty Images and Google sets the stage for a very productive, collaborative relationship between our companies,” said Dawn Airey, CEO, Getty Images. “We will licence our market leading content to Google, working closely with them to improve attribution of our contributors’ work and thereby growing the ecosystem.”
Google’s official line on Twitter acknowledges that the changes were forced on Google through the settlement, which might explain why Google chose to announce this informally through Twitter instead of through a typically cheerful blog post.
Here is the official tweet:
For those asking, yes, these changes came about in part due to our settlement with Getty Images this week (see also https://t.co/a5uFldOcih). They are designed to strike a balance between serving user needs and publisher concerns, both stakeholders we value.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) February 15, 2018
Google Image Search Accused of Encouraging Piracy
Getty Images filed a complaint in April 2016 against Google with the European Commission, alleging that Google’s image search was aiding the theft and piracy of copyrighted content.
“Getty Images’ complaint focuses specifically on changes made in 2013 to Google Images, the image search functionality of Google, which has not only impacted Getty Images’ image licensing business, but content creators around the world
These changes have… allowed Google to reinforce its role as the internet’s dominant search engine, maintaining monopoly over site traffic, engagement data and advertising spend. This has also promoted piracy, resulting in widespread copyright infringement, turning users into accidental pirates.”
Publishers React Positively to Removal of View Image Button
Web publishers on WebmasterWorld reacted positively to the news as word of the announcement trickled out. Here are typical reactions:
“Certainly good news IMO.”
“The button was there this morning when I checked. But now its gone. This seems positive.”
Publishers also reacted positively on Twitter:
Would love to see Google stepping up to protect copyright more than just the notice under the image. Image theft has been rampant
— Dennis Goedegebuure (@TheNextCorner) February 15, 2018
Will this Move Benefit Web Publishers?
At this point it is uncertain how this will impact web publishers.
It is anticipated that the removal of the view image button may encourage visits from users who are viewing the images.
This should have a positive impact on publishers, especially stock photography businesses that rely on the purchase of copyrighted images.
Search by Image Function Also Removed
Tucked away in the announcement of the view image button was a second announcement via Twitter that the search by image function was also being removed.
Here’s that tweet:
The Search by Image button is also being removed. Reverse image search *still works* through the way most people use it, from the search bar of Google Images.
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) February 15, 2018
READ: How to Do Reverse Image Search on Google, Bing, Yandex & Tineye
The impact of this specific change is likely to slow down the discovery of images for image content piracy. Although as Sullivan noted above, the full functionality is not entirely gone.
Web publishers may welcome this change as well because it may slow down image theft by making it harder to discover new content.
Takeaways & Summary of Image Search Changes
The full impact to web publishers remains to be seen. It is anticipated that the changes will ultimately be positive for publishers. How far this will go to reduce image theft and piracy is unknown.
Google could have been the good guys in this story if they had heeded web publisher concerns about content piracy. Instead it took legal action to force Google into making this move.
The involuntary aspect may account for the less than enthusiastic nature of the announcement and Google’s choice to to informally announce it via Twitter.
Featured Image by Shutterstock, modified by Author
