Key facts
- Getty Images, which had sued Stability AI for copyright infringement, has reached a licensing agreement with OpenAI.
- The deal allows Getty Images to use its library with ChatGPT, creating new revenue and enhancing AI output trust.
- A24 has partnered with Google DeepMind.
- Major music companies have also entered into deals with AI music platforms Udio and Suno.
The landscape of artificial intelligence and creative industries is shifting from legal battles to collaborative deals, according to Nick Eziefula, a lawyer and rapper. Companies are increasingly opting for licensing agreements over courtroom confrontations.
Getty Images, after suing Stability AI for alleged copyright infringement, has now reached a deal with OpenAI. This agreement allows Getty to leverage its extensive image library with ChatGPT, aiming to create new revenue streams and foster greater trust in AI-generated content. This move signifies a strategic pivot from conflict to cooperation.
The trend is further evidenced by partnerships such as A24 with Google DeepMind and major music companies striking deals with AI music platforms Udio and Suno. These developments suggest a broader industry movement towards boardroom bargains rather than protracted legal disputes.
However, from an artist's perspective, Eziefula notes a degree of confusion regarding how individual creatives will be compensated when their work is used by AI, and whether the payments reflect fair value. Concerns also exist about whether these large-scale deals consolidate power in ways that might undermine independent artists or reduce the impetus for legislative regulation.
On the legal front, complex commercial, legal, and regulatory questions remain, suggesting continued demand for legal expertise in navigating these nuanced agreements. Eziefula maintains faith in human creativity, asserting that music and art should not become easy, as that would render them meaningless.
In separate news, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cracked down on 'drip-pricing' in the ticketing market, fining StubHub £900,000 and mandating refunds for 50,000 customers due to misleading upfront pricing. The report 'Black Music Means Business' highlights Black music's significant contribution to the UK's music industry, while also pointing out disparities in senior roles and pay gaps for Black artists and executives.
The piece also touches on a Gorillaz concert at Tottenham Hotspur stadium, featuring guest appearances from artists like Black Thought and Moonchild Sanelly, with frontman Damon Albarn emphasizing the band's socialist ethos. Finally, Eziefula shares personal music recommendations, highlighting artists such as Jords, Moyses Dos Santos, and Scorcher.