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Question

Can I use someone else's image as a reference?

Sometimes, but be careful. Using an image privately for direction is different from producing a result that reproduces someone's protected work. Copyright protects original images, and whether a use is allowed depends on the facts. Prefer your own photos, licensed images or references you have permission to use.

In the United States, the Copyright Office notes that fair use is decided "on a case-by-case basis" using four factors, including the purpose of the use, how much of the work is used and the effect on the market for the original. Results that closely copy a distinctive photo or artwork are the riskiest.

Practical habits: use a reference for one general quality (light, color, texture) rather than its subject or composition, avoid recognizable people without consent, and keep a note of where each reference came from.

Also check the AI provider's own terms on uploaded content. This page is general information, not legal advice, and rules differ by country.

Source: U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index, checked October 20, 2026.

Next step

Can I use AI images commercially?The commercial-use question in general.Read more

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Can I use AI images commercially?Often, depending on the tool's terms and what the image shows.Read more Can AI copy the style of a reference image?Broadly, yes: palette, light and texture.Read more Can I use AI to edit a photo of a real person?Only with the person's consent and within the law.Read more Who owns AI-generated images?It depends on human authorship and the tool's terms.Read more

Last reviewed October 20, 2026 by ImageQuarry

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