Getty Images, Stability AI Face Off in UK Trial

A landmark copyright trial between Getty Images and Stability AI began in London's High Court, with Getty accusing Stability AI of using over 12 million copyrighted images, including watermarked and sensitive ones, without permission to train the Stable Diffusion generative AI model. Getty claims some AI-generated outputs even bear its trademarks and describes the alleged infringement as 'brazen.' Stability AI acknowledges using Getty's images but argues they constitute part of 'collective human knowledge,' warning the lawsuit could stifle technological innovation and the broader AI industry. The outcome could set major legal precedents for AI training data, copyright boundaries, and future UK and global AI development. Both sides dispute whether AI advancement and copyright protection are mutually exclusive, with Getty emphasizing fair compensation for creators. Similar lawsuits are ongoing in the United States, underscoring the international importance of the case.