INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD

An image search device includes: a search unit that retrieves an image similar to a search target image from a registration unit where an image and link information are registered in an associated manner; and a transmission unit that transmits, to a terminal device, the link information associated with the retrieved image. An information processing apparatus controls registration of an image and link information in the registration unit. The information processing apparatus extracts a predetermined area from a registration target image to be registered in the registration unit, transmits an image of the predetermined area to the search unit, and determines whether a similar image including an image similar to the predetermined area is registered in the registration unit based on a search result of the search unit. In the case where determination is made that a similar image is registered in the registration unit, such a fact is notified.