How to verify an AI image policy without relying on outdated blog posts

Start with the primary source

Use the provider’s Terms of Service, licensing page, contributor policy or marketplace rules. A current official FAQ can clarify implementation, but a forum comment should not override binding terms when the official source answers the question.

Separate tool and destination

A generator can allow commercial use while a marketplace rejects AI submissions. Always check both sides. AI Pic Market deliberately models these as two policy layers because combining them into a single ‘commercial use’ label hides the most important failure mode.

Identify the fact that changes the answer

Look for plan, revenue, model, privacy, disclosure, ownership, transfer or destination-specific conditions. Midjourney’s company-size rule, Recraft’s free-versus-paid distinction and Ideogram’s hosted-versus-self-hosted licensing are examples of why the exact access path matters.

Prefer the narrow rule over marketing copy

A product page may say a tool is suitable for business while the Terms contain a plan or model limitation. Use the more specific rule for the actual workflow. Likewise, a marketplace promotional page should not override its contributor or seller policy.

Record dates, not just conclusions

Store the official URL, the date the provider says it updated the policy when available, and the date you reviewed it. If the provider does not publish an update date, record your own review date rather than inventing one.

Resolve conflicts explicitly

If two official pages appear inconsistent, do not silently pick the more permissive one. Check whether one page is older, applies to a different product/model, or describes a marketing use rather than a legal licence. If the conflict remains material, the honest verdict is conditional until the provider clarifies it.

Use ‘conditional’ when necessary

If a rule depends on plan, revenue, disclosure, model selection or intended use, a simple yes/no answer is misleading. Conditional is the correct verdict until those facts are known. A cautious answer is more useful than false certainty.

Re-check high-value uses

For a casual social image, a recent primary-source check may be enough. For a major client campaign, product packaging, stock portfolio or disputed use, reopen the current sources immediately before relying on them and consider professional legal advice where the risk justifies it.