BREAKING: Getty Images has largely lost its significant lawsuit against Stability AI in the United Kingdom, a ruling that could reshape the landscape of copyright law regarding artificial intelligence. The decision was handed down by the London High Court on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, amid mounting tensions over the use of copyrighted material in AI training.
In a dramatic turn, Seattle-based Getty Images accused Stability AI of unlawfully using its images to train the Stable Diffusion system, which generates images based on text prompts. Getty Images claimed this constituted a breach of copyright, as the AI’s outputs allegedly reproduced its copyrighted works. However, during the trial, Getty decided to drop key parts of its case, particularly concerning evidence of how Stable Diffusion was trained, limiting the broader implications of the ruling.
Judge Joanna Smith commented in her written ruling that while Getty succeeded “in part” on trademark infringement, her findings were “both historic and extremely limited in scope.” The court dismissed Getty’s claims of secondary copyright infringement, leaving significant questions about the legality of training AI on copyrighted materials unresolved.
Following the ruling, Getty Images released a statement asserting that the court’s decision confirms that Stability AI’s use of Getty’s trademarks in AI-generated outputs constitutes infringement. The statement emphasized that this ruling sets a pivotal precedent, indicating that intangible articles like AI models can be subject to copyright claims similar to tangible works.
Lawyer Gill Dennis from Pinsent Masons highlighted the need for the UK government to provide “clear, timely policy guidance” regarding whether training AI on copyrighted material constitutes an infringement. The ruling leaves the question of whether AI models learning from copyrighted works is lawful in the UK largely unsettled.
Legal expert Iain Connor from the law firm Michelmores stated that the outcome leaves the UK without a definitive verdict on the legality of AI’s learning processes from copyrighted materials. This situation underscores the urgent need for clearer regulations as AI technology continues to evolve and integrate into various industries.
The implications of this ruling extend beyond the courtroom. Getty Images plans to leverage this decision in its ongoing parallel lawsuit against Stability AI in the United States, which could further influence the global discourse surrounding AI and copyright.
As the debate continues, stakeholders across the technology and creative industries are closely monitoring these developments, recognizing the potential impact on the future of AI-generated content. Expect further updates as this situation unfolds.
