Google officially announced significant changes to the functionality of image search. The first update involves the removal of Google’s "view image" button, and the second is the elimination of the "search by image" button. These adjustments are expected to benefit web publishers, who have positively received the news. However, Google search users have reacted negatively.
The announcement was made on Twitter by Danny Sullivan’s alias, @searchliaison. It indicated that the changes aim to help connect users with useful websites by removing the View Image button, although the Visit button remains to allow users to view images within the context of the hosting webpages.
Google Forced to Remove the View Image Button
Many web publishers have long criticized the view image button for various reasons, primarily because it facilitated the theft of their content. It appears that Google was compelled to remove this button as part of a legal settlement with Getty Images. As part of a new partnership, Google is licensing images from Getty Images. Getty Images’ CEO, Dawn Airey, expressed optimism about the collaboration enhancing contributor attribution and expanding the ecosystem.
Google acknowledged on Twitter that these changes partly resulted from the settlement with Getty Images. This may explain why the announcement occurred informally on Twitter rather than a blog post.
Here is the official tweet regarding the settlement:
Google Image Search Accused of Encouraging Piracy
Getty Images filed a complaint in April 2016 with the European Commission, accusing Google of facilitating content piracy through its image search changes made in 2013. These changes allegedly harmed Getty Images’ licensing business and impacted global content creators, resulting in widespread copyright infringement.
Publishers React Positively to Removal of View Image Button
Web publishers on WebmasterWorld and Twitter have positively received the removal of the View Image button. Many expressed enthusiasm for Google’s effort to protect copyrights.
Will this Move Benefit Web Publishers?
The impact on web publishers remains uncertain but is expected to be positive. The removal of the View Image button could lead to more website visits, particularly benefiting stock photography businesses reliant on selling copyrighted images.
Search by Image Function Also Removed
The announcement on Twitter also mentioned the removal of the search by image button, although reverse image search is still possible through Google’s search bar. This change is expected to slow the discovery of images for content piracy, potentially curbing image theft by complicating new content discovery.
Takeaways & Summary of Image Search Changes
While the full impact on web publishers is yet to be seen, the changes are anticipated to be beneficial. Whether this will effectively reduce image theft and piracy remains uncertain. Google’s response to legal pressure rather than addressing web publishers’ concerns proactively might explain the understated nature of their announcement through Twitter rather than a formal medium.
Feature Image by Shutterstock, modified by Author
