Getty Images has prohibited the uploading and subsequent sale of illustrations created with artificial intelligence tools such as DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and others.
Getty Images CEO Craig Peters explained to The Verge that the ban was due to concerns about the legality of AI-generated content and a desire to protect the site’s customers from using unlicensed images.
“There are real copyright concerns about AI-powered software. There are a number of unresolved legal issues regarding the metadata, primary images, and faces contained in AI-generated art,” Peters clarifies. .
In fact, it is quite clear that among the data that AI-based image generators are trained on, there are images that are protected by copyright. Take, for example, its tendency to reproduce the watermark of Getty Images’ own stock.
Given these concerns, selling artwork or illustrations using AI generators could expose Getty Images users to legal risk.
“We take the initiative in the interest of our customers,” says Peters.
One of Getty Images’ biggest competitors, Shutterstock, also appears to be restricting some searches for AI content, but has yet to formally introduce specific rules banning such content.
Previously, Newgrounds, PurplePort, and FurAffinity reported a ban on the publication and sale of AI art. But what they were talking about was not protecting users, but rather protecting artists’ copyrights and generally “undermining their work” due to AI interference.
The creators of the AI image generators claim that the technology is legal. But nothing guarantees that this status will not be questioned in the near future.
Since the generated art uses copyrighted photographs or drawings in one form or another, it is likely that they will be used for commercial purposes without the knowledge of the creators.
For this reason, some artists whose work has been copied and imitated by AI image generating companies have called for new laws to regulate this field.
Whatever Getty Images’ raison d’être, it’s clear there will be issues with the AI-generated content removal process.
Peters says that Getty Images will rely on users’ honesty to identify such images and report them in a timely manner. The company is also working with C2PA (Content Authenticity Coalition) to create filters.
However, no automatic filter will be completely reliable, and it’s unclear how easily Getty Images will be able to enforce its new ban.
As of this morning, a quick search of the site for “art created by artificial intelligence” reveals a plethora of content for sale.
Author:
Ekaterina Alipova
Source: RB
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
