Perplexity AI Strikes Multi-Year Licensing Deal with Getty Images Amid Copyright Controversies

Reviewed byNidhi Govil

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AI search startup Perplexity has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Getty Images, allowing it to display the photo agency's content across its AI-powered search tools. The deal comes as Perplexity faces multiple copyright lawsuits and represents a shift toward formal content partnerships.

Partnership Details and Market Impact

AI search startup Perplexity has entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with Getty Images, marking a significant step toward legitimizing its content usage practices

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. The deal allows Perplexity to display images from Getty's extensive library across its AI-powered search and discovery tools, with proper attribution and source linking

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Source: PetaPixel

Source: PetaPixel

The market responded enthusiastically to the announcement, with Getty Images stock surging over 50% in early trading following the deal's disclosure

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. Getty shares jumped over $2.80 at the NYSE, reflecting investor confidence in the partnership's potential

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Source: Economic Times

Source: Economic Times

Technical Implementation and Attribution

Under the agreement, Perplexity will integrate Getty's API technology into its platform workflows, enabling users to access premium visual content while maintaining proper attribution standards

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. The partnership emphasizes improved display of image credits, source linking, and educational resources to help users understand legal usage of licensed imagery

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Jessica Chan, Perplexity's head of content and publisher partnerships, emphasized that "attribution and accuracy are fundamental to how people should understand the world in an age of AI"

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. The deal represents a shift from Perplexity's previous practices, as the companies had been working together informally for over a year through Getty's participation in Perplexity's Publishers' Program

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Legal Context and Copyright Challenges

The partnership comes as Perplexity faces mounting legal pressure over its content usage practices. The AI startup has been hit with multiple copyright lawsuits from prominent publishers, including Japan's Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun, who alleged illegal scraping and storage of article content

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. Most recently, Reddit sued Perplexity in October, alleging "industrial-scale, unlawful" scraping of user content and circumventing technical measures to access data

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Source: Market Screener

Source: Market Screener

Previously, Perplexity faced criticism for using Getty stock photos without proper licensing, including instances where the startup pulled content from Wall Street Journal articles that included Getty images

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. The new agreement appears to legitimize some of the startup's previous use of Getty's content while establishing a framework for future usage.

Industry Implications

The deal reflects a broader trend of AI companies seeking formal licensing agreements with content providers to address copyright concerns while expanding their capabilities

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. Getty Images has previously taken a strong stance on AI-related copyright issues, banning AI-generated art from its platform in 2022 and suing Stability AI over alleged image scraping

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Nick Unsworth, Getty's vice president of strategic development, stated that the partnership "acknowledges the importance of properly attributed content and its value in enhancing AI-powered products"

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. The collaboration aims to support AI platforms in delivering higher quality and more accurate information to consumers while building more reliable user experiences.

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