Shutterstock and Lightricks Partner to Revolutionize AI Video Model Training

Why Video AI Model Developers Are Partnering With Media Powerhouses

The recent announcement of a partnership between innovative visual AI software company Lightricks and leading stock media provider Shutterstock opens the door to a new type of relationship which could have significant impact for both sides - and for the ecosystems in which they operate. Lightricks is the first global partner to take advantage of Shutterstock's new research license, using Shutterstock's extensive video content libraries to train LTXV, the new Lightricks open-source generative video model. LTXV is available to developers to experiment with for free, and it's also being integrated into Lightricks' AI filmmaking web app, LTX Studio. The deal brings important benefits to both companies. Lightricks gets to utilize Shutterstock's enormous media archives as vital training data, while maintaining its commitment to respect creator rights. Meanwhile, Shutterstock successfully diversified its strategic business model to open up new revenue streams and stay relevant as AI becomes more embedded in creative work. However, the new partnership has a significance that goes beyond the two companies involved. It could be consequential for both media and AI industries.

Lightricks Partners With Shutterstock for Video Training Data to Advance Open Source LTXV Video AI Generative Video Model By Investing.com

Shutterstocks' partnership with Lightricks is the first of a new data licensing approach that builds new ways for training AI models and , /PRNewswire/ -- Lightricks, a global leader of AI-powered creative technology, today announced it is partnering with Shutterstock (NYSE:SSTK), Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) to license and use Shutterstock's extensive video asset library. This collaboration will empower Lightricks to train its open-source video generation model, LTX Video (LTXV), using high-quality HD and 4K video assets. Lightricks is the first global partner to train on Shutterstock's industry-first "research license," a unique option that reduces the entry barrier for open-source model training. Leveraging the research license model mirrors Lightrick's vision to expand access to creative tools, while driving high quality generative AI results ensure creators' have protection for their content from the outset. By first integrating a research licence, startups and AI companies can build and refine AI tools on premium, licensed data before making a larger commitment in a full commercial license. This approach also offers a cost-effective path to accessing high-quality data at the research and development stage, addressing a key challenge many new or established companies may face in training AI models. "This long-term partnership with Shutterstock marks a strategic milestone for us, building on our licensing initiatives from the past year, including agreements with major broadcasters and key content providers." said , Co-founder and CEO of Lightricks. "At our core, we're committed to building powerful, accessible creative tools. This collaboration not only enhances our ability to train AI models with premium, diverse video data, but also elevates the quality and relevance of our generative video tools for our growing community of professional creators and enterprises." This partnership also continues Lightricks' AI mission to drive access to creative tools, while driving high-quality generative AI results. By incorporating Shutterstock-licensed video data, Lightricks strengthens its training models, ensuring they are built on robust, industry-recognized datasets that respect the creativity of filmmakers and broadcasters. This announcement follows Lightricks' release of LTXV 0.9 to the open-source community in . By leveraging Shutterstock's premium HD and 4K video data, Lightricks aims to prioritize quality in its next model update, enhancing results for users while advancing its open-source initiatives. "With our innovative research license model, we empower partners to train their AI models using trusted, licensed data from the start," said , Global Head of Data Licensing & AI at Shutterstock. "We're thrilled to collaborate with Lightricks on their cutting-edge video tools and remain committed to delivering the data assets they need to achieve long-term success." Shutterstock's expansive library"consisting of more than one billion royalty-free assets, including images, videos, music, 3D models, templates, and more"provides one of the largest and most diverse global media datasets available for multimodal model training. About Lightricks Lightricks is a global leader in developing AI-powered creative tools that empower creators and brands. With innovative products like Facetune, Videoleap, and the recently launched , Lightricks is transforming the creative landscape. About Shutterstock, Inc. Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) is a premier partner for transformative brands, digital media and marketing companies, empowering the world to create with confidence. Fueled by millions of creators around the world and a fearless approach to product innovation, Shutterstock is the leading global platform for licensing from the most extensive and diverse collection of high-quality 3D models, videos, music, photographs, vectors and illustrations. From the world's largest content marketplace, to breaking news and A-list entertainment editorial access, to all-in-one content editing platform and studio production service"all using the latest in innovative technology"Shutterstock offers the most comprehensive selection of resources to bring storytelling to life.

Shutterstock pioneers 'research license' model with Lightricks, lowering barriers to AI training data

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More Shutterstock is reshaping how AI companies access training data through a novel "research license" approach, launching first with AI creative technology company Lightricks. The partnership, announced today, allows Lightricks to train its open-source video generation model LTXV using Shutterstock's extensive HD and 4K video library. The new licensing model addresses a critical challenge in AI development: the high cost of accessing quality training data. It enables companies to start with a smaller research license for testing and experimentation before committing to more expensive commercial licenses. Making ethical AI development more accessible for startups "Many companies and model trainers have taken the route of unauthorized data scraping over making the necessary investment to achieve the quality and level of trust needed to develop commercially viable models," said Daniel Mandell, Shutterstock's Global Head of Data Licensing & AI, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. "However, we don't think that financial investment should be a barrier for those looking to enter this space with an ethical approach." This two-phase approach could transform how startups approach AI development. Craig Andrews, Lightricks' Global PR Manager, describes it as "a turning point for smaller, more agile developers who want to explore innovative applications of generative AI without the heavy upfront costs of traditional licensing." Legal protection and fair compensation in the age of AI The timing is significant, coming amid increasing legal scrutiny of AI training data practices. Several major AI companies face lawsuits over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted material for model training. Shutterstock's approach offers a legitimate alternative while ensuring content creators receive compensation. "We're setting a standard for ethical AI development while ensuring that creators are fairly compensated for their work," Andrews explains. "This approach not only fosters trust in the creative ecosystem but also establishes a sustainable framework for responsible AI innovation." Revenue sharing: A win-win for creators and AI companies Shutterstock has implemented a revenue-sharing model where contributors receive 20 percent of the revenue from data licensing deals. Contributors can also opt out of having their content used for AI training, though Mandell notes only about 1 percent have chosen to do so. Lightricks plans to use the licensed video data to enhance LTXV, its open-source video generation model released last month. The model has already gained significant traction, with "thousands of downloads on GitHub and Hugging Face," according to Andrews. One notable application includes real-time video generation for interactive e-commerce. The partnership aims to address technical challenges in AI video generation, particularly motion consistency in longer videos. "One of the biggest technical hurdles in AI video generation is achieving consistent motion and structure over longer video segments without sacrificing quality," Andrews says. "Shutterstock's high-quality video library provides an extensive dataset that helps us address this challenge." For Shutterstock, this partnership represents a strategic shift in its business model. The company has already established partnerships with major AI companies including Nvidia, Meta, and OpenAI. Mandell emphasizes that the research license model could democratize access to high-quality training data for smaller organizations and research institutions. Setting New Industry Standards for Ethical AI Development The collaboration also reflects a growing trend toward transparency and ethical considerations in AI development. Lightricks made LTXV open source to promote collaboration and innovation, while Shutterstock's licensing approach ensures proper compensation for content creators. "The important message here is that companies, no matter the size or funding, no longer have an excuse to scrape unlicensed content for training purposes," Mandell concludes. "There is a better way to enter this evolving market." This partnership could set a new standard for how AI companies access training data, potentially influencing industry practices as concerns about AI training data sources continue to grow. The success of this model could determine whether other content providers follow Shutterstock's lead in creating more flexible, accessible licensing options for AI development.