Stability AI will face off against Getty Images in a copyright infringement case in 2024
In the United States, nine class-action lawsuits have been filed against prominent AI companies, claiming copyright infringement through the use of copyrighted content to train AI models. These lawsuits could set important precedents for the tech industry and intellectual property law.
Among them, Getty Images has initiated legal action against Stability AI in both the US and the UK, accusing the company of using their copyrighted images to train Stability AI’s image generator without permission.
The legal debate hinges on whether AI creators should bear the cost of copyright liability, a stance opposed by tech investors like Andreessen Horowitz. The outcomes of these cases could profoundly affect the development of AI technologies and the balance between innovation and intellectual property rights.
Class-action lawsuits can be lengthy, with the Google Books case taking almost a decade to resolve. The Getty Images versus Stability AI case in the UK is advancing, with a trial expected to conclude in the second half of 2024. The UK legal environment may present a tougher challenge for AI firms due to fewer exceptions for training AI with copyrighted works.
A victory for Getty Images could inspire further claims and influence where companies choose to train their AI models, potentially leading to “jurisdiction shopping” to avoid legal risks. The legal landscape in the UK and the outcome of these cases could push AI firms to operate in more legally favorable countries like the US.
