Using Amazon Product Images On Your Site

The question about using Amazon product images on your site comes up pretty often, and I've seen a LOOOT of different answers.

Generally, people want to know if they're allowed to do it.

Believe it or not, my years of building authority and influence means that I am on a first name basis with the head of Amazon's EU affiliate program, so I was able to ask him directly on this.

The answer is...yes, but you have to do it within their guidelines.

You are allowed to use Amazon images, but only if you do so in the following ways:

Allowed

1.) You use the Amazon affiliate stripe and select "image" or "image + text" to generate an HTML code which will display the image.

2.) You use Amazon's API to generate your image. Plugins like EasyAzon and some themes like AuthorityAzon are examples of ways to use the API.

3.) You can get the images directly from the manufacturer with permission.

Not Allowed

You are NOT allowed to copy/download the image and then re-upload it to your site. This also includes taking a screenshot of an image. It's the content of the image that matters, not the actual file, so a screenshot is still not allowed.

Why the difference?

Simple. Amazon does not own every product on its marketplace. A large percentage of products on Amazon are owned by third party manufacturers. They've actually had incidents in the past where the manufacturer has taken their product off Amazon, which means Amz no longer have permission to use the image. This includes affiliates as well.

Now, if you are using the API or the site stripe, Amazon could automatically remove the image from your site and nobody gets in trouble. If you've downloaded it and then uploaded it, you're now using it without permission, and Amazon will get in trouble, meaning that they will ban you from their affiliate program.