Getty Images Takes Stability AI to Court in High-Stakes Copyright Clash

Stock photo giant throws legal punches at generative AI upstart—accuses it of training models on copyrighted images without permission. Another case of 'move fast and break things' meeting 'pay up or lawyer up.'

Legal teams are licking their lips as this battle could set precedent for how AI companies scrape data. Spoiler: The only guaranteed winners here are the billable-hour vampires.

Meanwhile in finance land: Traders shrug and buy more $STAB tokens because nothing fuels crypto like a good old-fashioned lawsuit drama.

TLDR;

• Getty Images is suing Stability AI for using its pictures without permission to train an AI system.
• The lawsuit could change how copyright law applies to AI and its use of creative content.
• Stability AI denies the claims, saying it follows fair use rules.
• This case is part of a bigger global debate about AI and copyright protections.

Getty Images has initiated a lawsuit against Stability AI, filing a copyright infringement lawsuit in London’s High Court that could become a landmark case for artificial intelligence and copyright law.

The lawsuit, set to begin on June 9, 2025, accuses Stability AI of using millions of Getty’s copyrighted images without permission to train its Stable Diffusion AI system, which creates images based on text prompts. Getty Images has also pursued a similar claim against Stability AI in the United States.

Getty Alleges Unlawful Use of Millions of Images

The dispute highlights the growing tensions between traditional content creators and AI companies relying on vast datasets to train generative models. Getty Images, a global leader in stock photography and media licensing, alleges that Stability AI’s use of its images amounts to theft and unfair competition. Getty’s CEO Craig Peters has publicly condemned the unauthorized use of over 12 million images as a violation of copyright that undermines the creative industry. In contrast, Stability AI defends its practices, insisting that its AI technology leverages collective human knowledge and complies with legal principles like fair use and freedom of expression.

Legal Battle Reflect AI’s Challenge to Copyright Law

This lawsuit comes amid a wave of similar legal actions worldwide, reflecting the challenges copyright law faces in adapting to new AI technologies. Recent court rulings suggest that judges may increasingly side with copyright holders when it comes to unauthorized use of protected works for AI training. For example, a federal judge in the United States allowed copyright infringement claims to MOVE forward against Stability AI in a previous case involving artists. That decision underscored that generative AI models may indeed reproduce elements that are protected by copyright, casting doubt on traditional fair use defenses.

A Complex  Legal Landscape

The case also takes place in a fragmented global legal environment where different countries have contrasting approaches to AI-generated content and copyright protection. In the US, copyright law still requires human authorship, and works created entirely by AI are not granted copyright status. Other jurisdictions are exploring alternative frameworks, some even recognizing AI-assisted creations as eligible for copyright. This patchwork of laws complicates compliance for companies like Stability AI, which operate across borders and must navigate varying regulations.

Beyond this case, the legal fight between content owners and AI developers is gaining momentum. Earlier this year, Thomson Reuters secured a significant copyright victory in the US against Ross Intelligence, a legal AI startup accused of copying content from Thomson Reuters’ Westlaw service. The court decisively rejected Ross Intelligence’s fair use claims, setting a precedent that could encourage more rights holders to protect their materials aggressively.

That said, for Getty Images, this lawsuit is part of a broader effort to assert control over its vast image library amid rapid technological change. Getty itself has a complicated history with copyright disputes, previously being both plaintiff and defendant in major legal battles. This current action signals a shift in the creative industry’s response to AI, as traditional companies seek new strategies to protect their business models and intellectual property.