Google is beta testing an option that adds licensing options to images displayed in its image search. When an image with license information embedded in its metadata is displayed, Google will add a badge stating that the image is licensable. The license terms and details can then be accessed via a link in the Google image viewer.

To implement this, the image needs metadata that explicitly links to a page that describes the license governing the image’s use. It also needs a URL that details how a user can find information on how to license it.

Photoshelter has already announced that it plans to support the new option and has added the required IPTC fields to its templates. It is likely that other providers will follow suit.