Getty Images and Stability AI face off in British copyright trial that will test AI industry
LONDON (AP) — Getty Images is facing off against artificial intelligence company Stability AI in a London courtroom for the first major copyright trial of the generative AI industry.
Opening arguments before a judge at the British High Court are scheduled for Monday. The trial could last for three weeks.
Stability, based in London, owns a widely used AI image-making tool that sparked enthusiasm for the instant creation of AI artwork and photorealistic images upon its release in August 2022. OpenAI introduced its surprise hit chatbot ChatGPT three months later.
Seattle-based Getty has argued that the development of the AI image maker, called Stable Diffusion, involved 'brazen infringement' of Getty's photography collection 'on a staggering scale.'
Tech companies have long argued that 'fair use' or 'fair dealing' legal doctrines in the United States and United Kingdom allow them to train their AI systems on large troves of writings or images. Getty was among the first to challenge those practices when it filed copyright infringement lawsuits in the United States and the United Kingdom in early 2023.
'What Stability did was inappropriate,' Getty CEO Craig Peters told The Associated Press in 2023. He said creators of intellectual property should be asked for permission before their works are fed into AI systems rather than having to participate in an 'opt-out regime.'
Stability has argued that the case doesn't belong in the United Kingdom because the training of the AI model technically happened elsewhere, on computers run by U.S. tech giant Amazon.
Similar cases in the U.S. have not yet gone to trial.
Stable Diffusion's roots trace to Germany, where computer scientists at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich worked with the New York-based tech company Runway to develop the original algorithms. The university researchers credited Stability AI for providing the servers that trained the models, which require large amounts of computing power.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Shutterstock Receives Stockholder Approval for Proposed Merger with Getty Images
NEW YORK, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) ("Shutterstock"), a leading global creative platform offering high-quality creative content for transformative brands, digital media and marketing companies, today announced that Shutterstock's stockholders approved the adoption of the merger agreement between Shutterstock and Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GETY) ("Getty Images"), with approximately 82% of the issued and outstanding shares of Shutterstock common stock voting in favor, at today's special meeting of Shutterstock stockholders. Stockholder approval marks an important milestone in the process of combining Shutterstock and Getty Images to create a premier visual content company. The combined company will be well-positioned to meet the ever-changing needs of customers through combined investment in content creation, event coverage, and product and technology innovation. "We are very pleased that our stockholders recognize the compelling rationale of this transaction and look forward to the successful completion of our merger with Getty Images," said Paul Hennessy, Shutterstock's Chief Executive Officer. "Our complementary strengths will allow us to better serve customers while also delivering exceptional value to our partners, contributors and stockholders in a fast evolving and competitive environment." Both parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2025, subject to required regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. The final voting results will be reported on a Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ABOUT SHUTTERSTOCKShutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) is a leading global creative platform offering high-quality creative content for transformative brands, digital media and marketing companies. Fueled by millions of creators around the world, a growing data engine and a dedication 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 services—all using the latest in innovative technology—Shutterstock offers the most comprehensive selection of resources to bring storytelling to life. Learn more at and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThe statements in this press release, and any related oral statements, include forward-looking statements concerning Getty Images, Shutterstock, the proposed transaction described herein and other matters. All statements, other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, financings or otherwise, based on current beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made or as of the dates indicated in the statements and should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, as there can be no assurance that the events or circumstances reflected in these statements will be achieved or will occur or the timing thereof. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "might," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "pro forma," "estimates," "anticipates," "designed," or the negative of these words and phrases, other variations of these words and phrases or comparable terminology, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things, obtaining applicable regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction on a timely basis or otherwise, satisfying other closing conditions to the proposed transaction, on a timely basis or otherwise, the expected tax treatment of the proposed transaction, the expected timing of the proposed transaction, and the integration of the businesses and the expected benefits, cost savings, accretion, synergies and growth to result therefrom. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, among other things: failure to obtain applicable regulatory approvals in a timely manner or otherwise; interloper risk; failure to satisfy other closing conditions to the transaction or to complete the transaction on anticipated terms and timing (or at all); negative effects of the announcement of the transaction on the ability of Shutterstock or Getty Images to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others who Shutterstock or Getty Images does business, or on Shutterstock or Getty Images' operating results and business generally; risks that the businesses will not be integrated successfully or that the combined company will not realize expected benefits, cost savings, accretion, synergies and/or growth, as expected (or at all), or that such benefits may take longer to realize or may be more costly to achieve than expected; the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm business plans and operations; risks relating to unanticipated costs of integration; significant transaction and/or integration costs, or difficulties in connection with the transaction and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities; restrictions during the pendency of the transaction that may impact the ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; potential litigation associated with the transaction; the potential impact of the announcement or consummation of the transaction on Getty Images', Shutterstock's or the combined company's relationships with suppliers, customers, employers and regulators; demand for the combined company's products; potential changes in the Getty Images stock price that could negatively impact the value of the consideration offered to the Shutterstock stockholders; the occurrence of any event that could give rise to the termination of the proposed transaction; and Getty Images' ability to complete any refinancing of its debt or new debt financing on a timely basis, on favorable terms or at all. A more fulsome discussion of the risks related to the proposed transaction is included in the information statement and proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC by Shutterstock and Getty Images in connection with the proposed transaction. For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements, see the section captioned "Risk Factors" in each of Getty Images' and Shutterstock's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward looking statements. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the information statement and proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC by Shutterstock and Getty Images in connection with the proposed transaction is considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward looking statements. Neither Getty Images nor Shutterstock assumes, and each hereby disclaims, any obligation to update forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Associated Press
14 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Top 3 AI Voice Agents Integrated with VoIP Telephony Zadarma For the First Time in Europe
06/10/2025, LONDON // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Three major AI voice agents can now be fully integrated into the Zadarma cloud-based phone system. This means businesses can start using AI-powered voice assistants in their daily communications. This is the first time this kind of integration has been done on a large scale in Europe. The integration allows combining live human support with the AI, within the Zadarma's free virtual PBX system (Cloud PBX). Businesses can easily route calls to the appropriate AI voice agent by simply transferring the call to the corresponding extension, just like they would transfer it to a human colleague. This allows businesses to gradually delegate certain tasks to the AI. Additionally, the AI agent can also transfer calls to a human team member when needed. AI-powered voice bot can automatically interact with customers and execute certain tasks without human agent involvement. It can also receive calls if all other agents are busy or unavailable, or be used as one of the agents, participating in a call flow. The integration is compatible with existing PBX infrastructure. This means no major changes are needed in the PBX configuration. User-friendly setup guides are available. All three AI voice agents can now be integrated with the Zadarma's platform, supporting inbound and outbound calls, participation in call queues, handling calls during off-hours and holidays, and more. AI-powered voice agents are made using some of the most popular chat AI platforms. Businesses can choose the technology that suits their needs. Each voice agent can match a company's communication style, objectives, and tone of voice. One of the biggest advantages of these AI agents is their adaptability. Businesses can define the information the agent uses. This allows the AI to sound like the brand. The setup doesn't require advanced technical knowledge. This means AI technology is accessible to businesses of all sizes. Additionally, businesses can create different agents for different tasks. For example, one for sales inquiries and another for technical support. This flexible way of adding AI gives businesses more control, better results, and makes automation easier. Integrating the phone system with AI-powered voice assistants is a major step forward for companies looking to improve their communication without extra costs. Businesses can now reduce workloads for their employees with just a few clicks. Adding an extra agent to the team has never been easier. What once seemed like fiction has now become reality. About Zadarma Established in 2006, Zadarma is an independent VoIP provider operating globally, with offices located in Burgas (Bulgaria), London (UK), Wroclaw (Poland), and Valencia (Spain). With seven main data centers spread across seven countries on three continents, Zadarma focuses on offering reliable cloud communication services for businesses and individuals around the world. Their services include virtual phone numbers in over 100 countries, worldwide calling, a cloud-based PBX system, CRM, and a wide range of communication tools developed in-house. Supporting eight languages and offering multilingual technical support, Zadarma makes it easy for users around the globe to stay connected. Media Contact Iryna Kadiievska [email protected]


Associated Press
14 minutes ago
- Associated Press
AIVille 2.0 Cognitive Architecture: On-Chain Memory, Reflection, and Intent
06/10/2025, Los Angeles // PRODIGY: Feature Story // In the age of decentralized intelligence, it's no longer enough for AI agents to merely respond. They must remember, reflect, plan — and evolve. AIVille 2.0 introduces a full-stack architecture that brings this vision to life, enabling AI agents to behave not just believably, but autonomously and on-chain. Backed by large language models (LLMs), enriched with persistent memory, and powered by the Enhanced Model Context Protocol (eMCP), AIVille's AI agents are no longer code-bound characters. They're becoming composable, programmable, and socially aware digital beings — ready to participate in Web3 ecosystems as first-class citizens. LLM-Powered Cognitive Loop Every agent in AIVille operates through a four-phase behavior loop: Perceive → Reflect → Plan → Act. This loop is driven by a tightly integrated system of memory, reasoning, and planning — creating continuity, intentionality, and agency over time. Memory Stream Agents continuously log observations into a dynamic memory stream, assigning scores for: These scores are used to prioritize which memories are surfaced during decision-making — ensuring that behavior is both context-aware and historically grounded. Reflection Tree When recent observations pass a cumulative importance threshold, agents enter a reflection phase. They generate abstract questions, retrieve related memories, synthesize insights, and store them as reflections — creating a tree of interlinked thoughts that evolve into deeper self-awareness. This structure supports long-term behavioral learning and enables reasoning that mirrors human-like introspection. Personalized Planning Agents generate detailed plans with recursive time structures — spanning hours, broken down into minutes. Plans are updated dynamically based on new observations or priority shifts, creating flexible, self-directed routines. Whether it's researching a topic, farming a field, or initiating dialogue, every action is goal-aligned. Behavioral Continuity What sets AIVille apart is that agents aren't reacting in isolation. Their decisions are shaped by memory and motivation, not just prompts. This creates consistency over time, allowing each agent to develop a distinct identity — with habits, preferences, and recognizable personality traits. On-Chain Memory & Cross-Chain Identity Beyond behavior simulation, AIVille 2.0 tackles two of the hardest problems in Web3 AI: persistent memory and interoperable identity. On-Chain Memory Infrastructure Every memory object is stored with three core attributes: The eMCP standard defines how agents store, retrieve, and prioritize these memories — not just in memory, but on-chain. Reflections and plans are also recorded immutably, enabling: Cross-Chain Interoperability Using protocols like LayerZero and Axelar, agents can maintain synchronized identity and behavior across multiple blockchains. Each agent carries: This unlocks the true potential of cross-chain autonomous life — where agents don't just live in one game or dApp, but exist across the open Web3 fabric. Developer Infrastructure & Modular Integration eMCP SDK & Tool Registry The eMCP SDK enables developers to register smart contracts and APIs as callable tools for agents. Any ABI — from DeFi pools to NFT minting to DAO voting — can be exposed as a standardized, secure, on-chain function. The Tool Registry enforces permission boundaries and defines accessible agent capabilities — offering a clean, extensible layer for programmable AI behavior. Modular AI Game Framework AIVille's modular architecture supports plug-and-play integration of: It also supports multimodal plugins — enabling voice, image, and generative storytelling features. Agents can now live persistently across games and applications — carrying over their memory, behavior, and persona as transferable Web3-native entities. Intelligent Agents as Economic Participants In AIVille, agents aren't passive. They participate actively in the economy: These agents aren't bots. They're economic actors — thinking, evolving, and contributing to the protocol-level economy of AIVille. Roadmap: A Layered Evolution of Intelligence Toward a Protocol for Intelligence AIVille 2.0 reimagines what AI can be in a decentralized world. It's not an application. It's not a feature. It's a cognitive protocol — where agents think, act, and evolve as fully-fledged Web3 participants. With memory on-chain, behavior driven by intent, and infrastructure ready for multi-chain coordination, AIVille is building the foundation for programmable, autonomous life in Web3. This is not just AI in the metaverse. This is the metaverse with native intelligence — and it's already live. - Homepage: - Game(Web): - AIVille Linktree: - AIVille Binance Square: - X(Twitter):