Label the relationship
An exact-copy finding concerns the photograph, not automatically the identity of its subject or the truth of its caption. A derivative may include a crop, flip or colour change. A similar scene can remain only a candidate.
Tie every label to evidence
- Name the source page.
- Describe the matching details.
- State what differs or cannot be checked.
- Explain the specific conclusion the evidence supports.
For example: “Possible derivative: same composition and sleeve fold, but only a small preview is accessible” gives a reviewer a clear reason for caution. “Ninety per cent original” does not explain the underlying uncertainty.
Update without erasing history
If a better source appears later, record why your conclusion changed. Avoid merging scores from unrelated search providers. Their scales may represent different comparisons. The purpose of confidence language is to make the limits visible, not to make a weak result feel mathematically certain.
Continue with tracing an original source.