Frequently Asked Questions

Akator Image Matcher is an API service for detecting duplicate and modified images. It's designed to help platform operators comply with EU copyright law's stay-down obligations (Article 17 / UrhDaG) by automatically checking user uploads against a blocklist of reported images.

Akator Image Matcher is built for platform operators in the EU who:

• Allow users to upload images or other visual content
• Need to comply with Article 17 of the EU Copyright Directive
• Want to implement stay-down measures for reported content

All data is stored in Germany, on servers operated in compliance with GDPR. We do not transfer data outside the EU.

Our algorithms achieve high accuracy for detecting identical and modified images. The matching works even when images have been:

• Resized or scaled
• Cropped
• Rotated (90°, 180°, 270°)
• Mirrored
• Color-adjusted
• Compressed

However, heavily modified images (e.g., significant portions removed, artistic filters applied) may not be detected. The similarity score helps you decide which matches require manual review.

False positives (incorrectly flagged images) are rare but possible. We recommend:

• Setting an appropriate similarity threshold for your use case
• Providing users with an appeals process (required by UrhDaG)
• Manually reviewing matches with scores below 0.9

Typical response times are 100-500ms, depending on the image size and your collection size. The API is designed to handle real-time upload checking without significantly impacting user experience.

There's no hard limit on collection size. Our infrastructure is designed to handle collections with millions of images while maintaining fast response times.

Currently, we only support still images. For video content, you would need to extract frames and check them individually. Video-specific matching is on our roadmap.

Akator Image Matcher is a technical tool that helps you implement the "technical measures" required by Article 17 and UrhDaG. However, legal compliance also involves:

• Proper handling of takedown notices
• Providing user complaint/appeals processes
• Avoiding overblocking of legitimate content
• Documenting your compliance efforts

We recommend consulting with legal counsel to ensure your overall process meets all requirements.

Every API call is logged with timestamps, results, and collection state. You can request audit logs that document:

• When images were added to your blocklist
• All match checks performed
• Actions taken on matches

This documentation can help demonstrate your compliance efforts if challenged.

Pricing depends on your collection size and expected API usage. Contact us for a customized quote based on your platform's needs.

Yes, we offer a trial period for you to test the API with your own images and integrate it into your workflow. Contact us to get started.

We'll notify you when you're approaching your limits. You can upgrade your plan or we can discuss overage pricing. We never cut off service without warning.

Contact us at info@akator.de for technical support, integration help, or any questions. We typically respond within one business day.

Yes, we can help you integrate the API into your platform. This includes code review, architecture advice, and troubleshooting. Integration support is included in all plans.