Decoding “Not Filtered by License”: What It Means and Why It Matters for Creators

When you are searching for images, graphics, music, or code online, you often encounter options to sort or filter your results by license type. Selecting “not filtered by license” (or seeing an unfiltered list by default) is a common setting, but its implications are frequently misunderstood.

What Does “Not Filtered by License” Mean?

In short, “not filtered by license” means the search engine or platform is showing you everything available in its database, regardless of its copyright status.

When a filter is applied—such as filtering for Creative Commons or commercial use—the algorithm actively hides copyrighted material that you do not have automatic permission to use. When that filter is turned off or set to unfiltered, you enter the wild west of the internet’s digital library. The results will feature a mix of:

• Public Domain works that are free for anyone to use.
• Open-source or Creative Commons materials with varying degrees of required attribution.
• Strictly copyrighted, proprietary assets owned by individuals, brands, or corporations who retain all legal rights.

The Hidden Risks of Using Unfiltered Content

It is easy to assume that if an image, song, or snippet of code appears in a public search engine, it is free for the taking. Unfortunately, copyright law does not work that way.