Google removes button with direct URL from Image search engine

Google has removed the direct url to images in its Images search engine. The company has done this to satisfy copyright holders. There is now also a notification under search results that the image can be copyrighted.

Instead of the direct link, users can now only go to the site where the search engine found the image, reports Google. This probably makes the results less useful. In many cases, the pages that contain images are dynamic and users can no longer find the exact image there. Desktop users can still access the image from the right-click menu.

The move is partly a result of an agreement between Google and image company Getty Images. In it, the search company agreed to give better credits for images in its services. The search giant says it believes showing images in the context of the page is better for rights holders and users.

Google wants to prevent users from saving copyrighted images and then using them for their own purposes. In addition, Google has removed the option to issue a Search By Image command directly from the search result. This is also still possible via the menu under the right-click.