A system for storing digital images and accessing and storing digital image information using a communication network includes a plurality of independently controlled digital storage repositories associated with one or more different authorization groups, wherein a first digital storage repository includes a first digital image with associated first semantic information and wherein a second digital storage repository in a common authorization group with the first digital storage repository includes a second digital image with associated second semantic information and an associated second category, and wherein the processor of the first digital storage repository uses its computer program to independently access and match the first semantic information with the second semantic information, to associate the second category with the first semantic information, and to store the second category in association with the first semantic information in the first digital storage repository.