AI search company Perplexity has entered a multi-year licensing partnership with Getty Images, enabling the use of Getty’s premium visual content across its AI-powered search and discovery tools. The agreement, which lifted Getty’s shares by 5% on Friday, gives Perplexity direct API access to Getty’s extensive image library, ensuring that all displayed visuals are properly licensed and attributed.
The deal represents a growing trend of collaboration between AI developers and established media firms as both sides seek to balance innovation with copyright protection. Perplexity will include image credits and source links to promote transparency and proper legal usage of licensed materials.
Getty, which has previously sued Stability AI over unlicensed use of its content, is expanding efforts to support ethical AI-generated creativity. Meanwhile, Perplexity—facing its own copyright challenges from publishers such as Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun—has implemented a revenue-sharing system with outlets like TIME and Der Spiegel.
Experts say these licensing arrangements mark a shift toward more sustainable AI development models, even as the industry continues to grapple with legal and ethical questions about data use.
