As we enter 2026, photographers should take a moment to update their copyright information in their editing program of choice. This simple yet crucial task ensures your intellectual property is protected across all your images.

Here are additional reasons why you should update your copyright information: 

• It gets embedded automatically
  Your copyright, name, and contact info are written into the image’s metadata (IPTC/EXIF) every time you export. If it’s outdated, every new file goes out wrong.
• Metadata travels with the image
  Even when images are resized, emailed, uploaded, or downloaded, metadata often stays intact. That’s one of the few reliable ways your authorship follows the photo.
• It supports licensing and recovery
  If an image is reused without permission, embedded copyright info helps track it back to you. Many licensing platforms and image search tools rely on this data.
• It protects against “I didn’t know” claims
  Accurate, current metadata weakens claims of innocent infringement, especially if the image ends up in commercial use.
• It keeps your workflow clean
  Updating once in the software avoids fixing hundreds of files later. Think of it as preventative maintenance.
• Some platforms read it directly
  Stock sites, DAM systems, and editorial workflows often pull creator and copyright fields automatically. Bad data there can cause rejection or misattribution.

In short: your editing tool is the source of truth for every file you export. Updating the copyright there ensures every image leaving your system in 2026 carries correct, consistent ownership information. 

For a detailed, step-by-step guide on updating your copyright information in the various Adobe Lightroom products, visit The Lightroom Queen's website. You'll find comprehensive instructions for each Lightroom version, ensuring you can protect your work effectively in 2026 and beyond.