Copyright Pivot: Getty Images Partners with Perplexity AI to Tackle Content Attribution

Perplexity AI has announced a multi-year licensing partnership with Getty Images, granting Perplexity API access to Getty Images’ extensive visual archives and planned integration of the library into its AI search and discovery tools. At the heart of the deal is an effort to address copyright and attribution in the AI industry, with Perplexity pledging to improve how images are displayed so each visual includes proper source attribution and clickable image credits.

The agreement is viewed as a strategic response to Perplexity’s legal challenges over content usage and data sourcing, including lawsuits from Japanese media groups, Reddit and clocking disputes with dictionary publishers. Getty Images’ stance on AI has evolved, with the company previously banning AI-generated artworks on its platform in 2022 and later suing Stable Diffusion over unauthorized reproduction of images.

Now Getty Images appears to be shifting toward a collaborative model, integrating AI platforms into its broader ecosystem through structured licensing agreements. According to Getty Images’ official statement, partnerships such as this support AI platforms to increase the quality and accuracy of information delivered to consumers, paving the way for a productive collaboration between the two companies.