In a surprising turn, Getty Images has dropped some of the biggest copyright claims in its lawsuit against Stability AI, the startup behind the AI image generator Stable Diffusion.
This doesn’t end the legal fight — not by a long shot — but it does narrow things down quite a bit.
So, What Just Happened?
Getty had accused Stability AI of using millions of copyrighted images — including some with visible Getty watermarks — to train its AI model without permission. That’s a serious claim.
But on Wednesday, Getty officially dropped those core copyright allegations, including one that said the AI-generated images looked too much like Getty’s own.
The company now seems to be shifting focus to claims it believes are stronger and easier to prove.
Why Did Getty Drop the Big Claims?
There are a couple of reasons, according to legal experts.
- First, Getty may have struggled to prove the AI model was trained in a way that violates UK copyright law.
- Second, the AI-generated images may not have copied enough of the original photos to count as real infringement.
Ben Maling, a partner at the law firm EIP, explained that Getty may have lacked solid evidence — or even key witnesses — to back the dropped claims.
In court, Getty’s lawyers admitted the evidence just wasn’t strong enough and that dropping those parts of the case helps them concentrate on what they feel is more likely to win.
What’s Still Left in the Case?
Even though Getty pulled back on its main arguments, the case isn’t over.
The lawsuit still includes:
- A secondary infringement claim — basically saying the AI models themselves might be considered infringing material and that using them in the UK could break the law, even if they were trained elsewhere.
- A trademark infringement claim — because some AI-generated images apparently included Getty’s watermark, which Getty says could confuse people into thinking it’s their official work.
This is where things get really interesting. If Getty wins on secondary infringement, it could affect other AI companies operating across borders — especially if they train models outside the UK but sell or use them inside the country.
How Did Stability AI React?
Stability AI seemed pretty happy with the update. A spokesperson said the company was “pleased to see Getty’s decision to drop multiple claims after the conclusion of the testimony.”
In court, Stability also argued that just because an image had a watermark doesn’t mean people think it came from them — which could help knock down the trademark claim.
Don’t Forget: The U.S. Case Is Still Ongoing
This is just the UK chapter. Getty is also suing Stability AI in the U.S., and that case is still very much alive.
In that version of the lawsuit, Getty claims Stability used over 12 million copyrighted images to train its model — again, without permission.
Getty’s asking for damages for more than 11,000 images. At $150,000 per infringement, that adds up to a jaw-dropping $1.7 billion.
The U.S. court hasn’t ruled yet. Stability is still trying to get the case dismissed.
Meanwhile, There’s More Legal Trouble for Stability
Aside from Getty, visual artists have also sued Stability AI — along with Midjourney and DeviantArt — claiming their copyrighted artwork was used without permission.
These lawsuits are all part of a larger debate over how AI tools are trained and whether using creative work without asking first is fair — or even legal.
Getty Has Its Own AI Tool, Too
It’s worth noting that Getty isn’t against AI altogether. In fact, it offers its own generative AI tool, which is trained only on licensed images from Getty’s own iStock library. This means users can create new images while staying on the right side of copyright law.
Key Points (in case you’re skimming)
- Getty Images dropped its two biggest copyright claims in its UK lawsuit against Stability AI
- The company still pursues secondary copyright and trademark claims
- Legal experts say the dropped claims were likely too weak to win
- Getty’s U.S. lawsuit is still ongoing, with possible damages reaching $1.7 billion
- Stability AI is also facing lawsuits from artists over similar issues
- Getty has launched its own copyright-safe AI image tool
Final Thoughts
Getty’s decision to scale back parts of its lawsuit is a big moment in the ongoing battle over AI and copyright. It shows just how hard it is to apply old copyright rules to new technology.
Even though this latest move might seem like a win for Stability AI, the bigger legal questions — like whether AI models can legally be trained on copyrighted material — are still wide open.