The rapidly evolving landscape of AI technology has become a topic of intense debate worldwide. While advancements in AI contribute to enhancing various domains, issues arise, particularly regarding AI-generated art, which often utilizes the work of others without proper consent or compensation. In a significant legal proceeding, Getty Images initiated a lawsuit against Stability AI’s Stable Diffusion in January 2023, claiming its operations involved the unauthorized use of millions of copyrighted images to generate outputs closely resembling existing artworks, sometimes even keeping original watermarks.

Current Situation

Recently, Getty has made the strategic decision to drop its primary claims of copyright infringement, asserting that weak evidence and the availability of knowledgeable witnesses from Stability AI influenced this choice. The objective now is to concentrate on more solid claims, primarily focusing on secondary infringements related to the AI model itself.

As stated by Ben Maling, a legal partner, Getty’s withdrawal came about due to insufficient connection establishing jurisdiction under UK copyright law. Despite this setback, the lawsuit continues, indicating that the central issues surrounding AI training protocols and copyright impacts remain unresolved.

As the case proceeds, there are increasing concerns about the legal frameworks governing the AI sector and whether existing laws adequately address the complexities that AI technology presents. As the industry anticipates further developments, questions around what constitutes legal boundaries and intellectual property protection in AI’s evolving landscape are expected to persist.