AFP
Getty Images targets AI firm for ‘copying’ photos

PARIS, FRANCE — US firm Getty Images on Tuesday threatened to sue a tech company it accuses of illegally copying millions of photos for use in an artificial intelligence (AI) art tool.
Getty, which distributes stock images and news photos including those of AFP, accused Stability AI of profiting from its pictures and those of its partners.
Stability AI runs a tool called Stable Diffusion that allows users to generate mash-up images from a few words of text, but the firm uses material it scrapes from the web often without permission.
The question of copyright is still in dispute, with creators and artists arguing that the tools infringe their intellectual property and AI firms claiming they are protected under “fair use” rules.
Tools like Stable Diffusion and Dall-E 2 exploded in popularity last year, quickly becoming a global sensation with absurd images in the style of famous artists flooding social media.
But the increased visibility also attracted the attention of artists, photographers, other creators and their lawyers.
Stability AI is already facing a class action lawsuit in the United States, launched last week by three artists who claim their copyright has been infringed.
Getty said it had started legal proceedings at the High Court in London.
“It is Getty Images’ position that Stability AI unlawfully copied and processed millions of images protected by copyright,” the firm said in a statement.
The photo firm said it had provided licences tailored to firms that wanted to train AI models.
“Stability AI did not seek any such license from Getty Images and instead, we believe, chose to ignore viable licensing options and long‑standing legal protections in pursuit of their stand‑alone commercial interests.”
Stability AI did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment.
— AFP

- Labour6 days ago
Government forms work group to tackle illegal delivery work by foreigners, protect local platform workers
- Politics6 days ago
Progress Singapore Party unveils new leadership team as founding leaders step aside in major renewal effort
- Business7 days ago
MAS fines 9 financial institutions S$27.45 million over S$3 billion money‑laundering case
- Singapore7 days ago
69-year-old woman found dead in Changi flat following days of pungent smell
- Singapore6 days ago
SMRT: Power system fault may have caused three-hour Bukit Panjang LRT disruption on 3 July
- Community7 days ago
Singaporean-funded polyclinic in Gaza treating up to 100 patients daily amid healthcare crisis
- Community3 days ago
Singapore sees 7% drop in marriages in 2024; more elderly living alone as family dynamics shift
- Court Cases7 days ago
Istana Security Unit officer: Feb 2024 pro-Palestinian procession posed no threat, was cooperative