Getty sues Stability AI system to stop UK sales
Seattle-based stock photo provider Getty Images has requested an injunction from London’s High Court to stop artificial intelligence (AI) firm Stability AI from selling its AI image-generation system in Britain. According to court filings, Getty Images has accused Stability AI of breaching its copyright by using their images to “train” its Stable Diffusion system. Stability AI has yet to file a defence to Getty’s lawsuit but filed a motion to dismiss Getty’s separate US lawsuit last month. The company has not yet responded to a request for comment. Getty’s case in London was filed in January, shortly after a similar class action lawsuit was filed in California by artists against Stability AI and other companies in the fast-growing field of generative AI.
Stability AI released Stable Diffusion – an AI-based system for generating images from text inputs – and image generator DreamStudio in August 2022. The company stated last year that it had raised over $100m in funding, however, press reports cited in Getty’s US lawsuit suggested that Stability AI was seeking more money based on a valuation of roughly $4bn. Getty Images says in its London lawsuit that Stability AI has relied on infringing its copyright “for the successful operation of its business.” The company is seeking unspecified damages and requesting that the High Court orders Stability AI to hand over or destroy all versions of Stable Diffusion that may infringe Getty’s intellectual property rights.
FAQs:
What is a class action lawsuit?
A class action lawsuit is a legal proceeding in which a group of people with the same injuries or damages caused by another party collectively sue that party.
What is generative AI?
Generative AI refers to AI systems that are designed to create new content, such as music, art, or text, rather than simply analysing existing data.
What is an injunction and what does it mean in this context?
An injunction is a court order that requires a party to do or to refrain from doing a specific act. In this context, Getty Images is requesting an injunction to prevent Stability AI from selling its AI image-generation system in the UK.
Getty Takes Legal Action Against Stability AI System to Halt Sales in the UK
Getty Images, a leading stock photo provider, has taken legal action against artificial intelligence (AI) company Stability AI at London’s High Court. Court filings show that Getty Images has requested an injunction to prevent Stability AI from selling its AI image-generation system in Britain. Getty Images alleges that Stability AI has breached its copyright by using Getty’s images to “train” its Stable Diffusion system. Stability AI has not yet filed a defense to Getty’s lawsuit and did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, last month, the Seattle-based company filed a motion to dismiss Getty’s separate US lawsuit. Getty’s London case was first filed in January, shortly after a similar class action lawsuit was initiated in California by artists against Stability AI and other firms operating in the rapidly-expanding field of generative AI.
In August 2022, London-based Stability AI launched Stable Diffusion, an AI-based system for generating images from text inputs, and image generator DreamStudio. Stability AI announced last year that it had raised over $100m in funding. Press reports cited by Getty in its US lawsuit revealed that Stability AI was seeking to raise more money on the basis of a roughly $4bn valuation. In its London lawsuit, Getty claims that Stability AI has relied on infringing its copyright “for the successful operation of its business”. Getty is currently seeking unspecified damages and is asking the High Court to order Stability AI to hand over or destroy all versions of Stable Diffusion that may infringe Getty’s intellectual property rights.