Stock images are not “just files”.
Downloads can create license records, and the wrong asset can create: - brand trust problems, - compliance headaches, - and messy “where did this come from?” questions later.
So I treat downloads like a write.
I built this safety gate because “we’ll fix it later” is how you end up with a licensing mess.
The workflow (preview first)
1) Search. 2) Preview a few candidates. 3) Pick the one you actually want. 4) Only then: download (explicitly).
Previewing is safe. Downloading is not “dangerous”, but it is state-changing.
Download is treated like a write
The tool should: - do nothing by default, - require --apply to download, - require --apply --yes for batch downloads.
Fail-closed “non‑AI only” rule
If your workflow requires “non‑AI only”, the safest default is fail-closed:
- If the tool cannot verify “non‑AI”, it refuses.
- If the metadata is missing/unclear, it refuses.
That’s better than “download first and hope”.
Ledger + sha256 proof
After a download, the tool records: - the license URL (or proof link), - the asset ID, - the local filename, - the sha256 hash.
That gives you a paper trail you can trust later.
Get access
- See the Freepik API tool.
- Read the safety model.
