Provided are an image processing apparatus, a user terminal, an image processing system, an operation method, and a program that suppress secondary use of an image (electronic data and print). An image processing apparatus (10) that transmits an image to a user terminal (100), the image processing apparatus (10) comprises a first processor (12); and a memory (14) that stores the image, in which the first processor (12) is configured to: receive a transmission request of the image from the user terminal (100); generate either a composite image obtained by compositing a user information image concerning a user of the user terminal (100) with the image or combination data obtained by combining the image with information relating to the user; and transmit the composite image or the combination data to the user terminal (100).