Embed Image Wants to Help You Control and Monetize Your Photos

Kristofer Minkstein from Embed Article recently contacted us asking whether we’d like to be a launch partner for a new service they’re planning to launch in a month called Embed Image. Unauthorized image use isn’t a big problem for us, so I don’t think we’ll be using the service, but the idea was interesting enough that I thought I’d share it with all of you.

Both Embed Article and Embed Image have the goal of preventing unauthorized use of content, whether it’s text or images. Embed Article prevents people from copying text with Ctrl-C (or Command-C), displaying a overlay with some embed code for the text instead. In the same way, when visitors of a site using Embed Image hover over a photo, an “embed image” button appears that displays some javascript embed code when clicked. The embed code will display your photo on other websites, just like how YouTube videos can be embedded. To see a live demo, check out the example they’ve put up.

So why would you want to do this? The idea is that giving people an authorized way of embedded an image may prevent unauthorized use. The embedded image automatically links back to the original, and even contains ad space you can use to monetize your photos with. Furthermore, the service will have reporting that shows you where and how your images are being used.

What do you think of this idea? Do you think embeddable images will become popular with photographers and photobloggers?