Getty Images and AI search startup Perplexity have announced a multi-year licensing pact designed to change the way visuals are sourced and attributed within artificial intelligence platforms.
The agreement, disclosed at the end of October 2025, reflects a strategic move by both companies to address mounting copyright concerns in the rapidly expanding AI content ecosystem.
The Getty–Perplexity partnership will allow Perplexity to integrate licensed images through Getty’s API, granting users direct access to high-quality visuals complete with proper attribution.
This comes as AI platforms face increasing scrutiny over unlicensed data use and ongoing litigation that shapes industry standards.
What Is the Getty-Perplexity Licensing Agreement?
Getty and Perplexity have structured their collaboration around a multi-year license granting Perplexity permission to display Getty Images visuals alongside AI-generated search and discovery results.
Images are supplied through an automated API, which ensures that the original source remains credited and legal rights are respected.
This means that every image shown within Perplexity’s interface will be legally cleared for use, something not guaranteed on many competing AI platforms.
As part of the contract, Getty’s images will include attribution details and source links, clearly distinguishing licensed from non-licensed content.
For Getty, the deal promises new revenue streams by monetizing its vast image archive through generative AI. At the same time, Perplexity strengthens user trust and reduces the risk of copyright claims.
Did you know?
Getty Images once sued Stability AI for allegedly scraping its images to train artificial intelligence models, setting an early precedent in visual copyright disputes.
How Will Getty Images Benefit Perplexity Users?
Users of Perplexity AI will be able to source images directly from Getty’s premium photo library while conducting searches for news, research, or creative inspiration.
This extends the platform’s capabilities beyond text, making it easier to deliver authoritative, visually enhanced results with legitimate usage rights. Attribution is built in, avoiding frequent pitfalls of unauthorized image use seen elsewhere.
The deal also ensures that image owners and content creators benefit from their work by sharing revenue, as Perplexity has introduced models to split earnings with publishers and outlets.
The presence of high-quality visuals adds value to search outputs and may encourage creative professionals and enterprises to rely on Perplexity for both compliance and aesthetics.
Why Is Copyright a Central Issue in AI Search?
As the adoption of AI-powered search tools accelerates, legal battles over unlicensed content have escalated. Getty itself has pursued legal action against firms like Stability AI for allegedly scraping and reusing its images without permission.
Meanwhile, Perplexity has grappled with its own copyright lawsuits, facing claims from Japanese publishers and prominent media organizations.
Licensing agreements, such as the one between Getty and Perplexity, formalize the relationship between content owners and technology platforms.
While revenue-sharing models and direct licensing can mitigate risk, experts argue that licensing cannot cover every scenario AI training often involves millions of disparate sources, making comprehensive authorization extremely difficult.
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How Are Other Platforms Navigating AI Content Licensing?
Getty licenses its images to multiple platforms, such as iStock and Unsplash, as well as up-and-coming AI tools that recognize the threat of litigation or reputational harm.
Perplexity has taken steps to partner with news outlets, including TIME and Der Spiegel, giving publishers a slice of earnings and direct representation in how their content is used. Still, the landscape remains filled with disputes and uncertain legal prospects.
Other AI startups and content providers are experimenting with fair-use defenses, although some legal experts argue that actively signing licenses may weaken those defenses in court.
Mark Lemley, director at Stanford’s Program in Law, Science, and Technology, observes that paying for large collections like Getty’s provides value, but is not a universal solution for the diverse mix of content on the internet.
Can Licensing Deals Shape the Future of AI Visual Access?
The Getty–Perplexity agreement is one of several efforts aimed at aligning technology development with existing copyright frameworks. By fostering legal access to premium visuals, the model could inspire similar initiatives among other major content owners and platforms.
However, full-scale licensing remains impractical for many types of content and raises questions about sustainability as AI tools evolve and ingest even broader datasets.
Consequently, rights-holders and technology leaders will need to negotiate new methods for attribution, compensation, and content validation, especially as the boundaries between original creation and generative output blur.
The push toward legal clarity is likely to intensify, inviting further innovation in both business models and regulatory policy.
Getty and Perplexity have set a precedent that formal deals can bridge gaps between creators and AI platforms, yet industry-wide solutions require broader frameworks and cooperation.
Expect more partnerships, revenue-sharing concepts, and legal developments as generative AI continues to redefine how users experience digital content.
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