Getty Images#Claiming copyright over public domain content

{{redirect|Wire Image|the method of transmitting images through telephone lines|wirephoto|the concept in computer networking|wire data}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Getty Images Holdings, Inc.

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{NYSE|GETY}}

| predecessors = {{unbulleted list |Getty Communications |PhotoDisc}}

| successor =

| founders = {{unbulleted list |Mark Getty{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Paul |date=1 December 2019 |title=It's crunch time for Seattle-based photo giant Getty Images, and for photographers |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/its-crunchtime-for-seattle-based-photo-giant-getty-images-and-for-photographers/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=21 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921202802/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/its-crunchtime-for-seattle-based-photo-giant-getty-images-and-for-photographers/ |url-status=live }} |Jonathan Klein}}

| defunct =

| fate =

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = {{unbulleted list |Mark Getty (chairman) |Craig Peters (CEO) |Jennifer Leyden (CFO){{cite news |last=Franklin |first=Joshua |date=4 September 2018 |title=Getty family to regain control of photo agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-getty-images-m-a/getty-family-to-regain-control-of-photo-agency-idUSKCN1LK24S |publisher=Reuters |access-date=1 December 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041307/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-getty-images-m-a/getty-family-to-regain-control-of-photo-agency-idUSKCN1LK24S |url-status=live }}}}

| industry = {{hlist|Publishing|media|web design}}

| genre = Stock photography

| products = {{hlist|Digital images|audio|video}}

| production =

| services = Rights-managed and royalty-free images, audio, and video

| revenue = {{decrease}} {{US$|917 million|link=yes}} (2023)

| operating_income = {{decrease}} {{US$|128 million}} (2023)

| net_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$|19.6 million}} (2023)}}

| aum =

| assets = {{increase}} {{US$|2.60 billion}} (2023)

| equity = {{increase}} {{US$|681 million}} (2023)

| owner = Getty family (36.7%){{cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001898496/000110465922075506/tm222601-15_s4a.htm |title=Getty Images Holdings, Inc. amended Form S-4 |date=29 June 2022 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |page=51 |access-date=7 August 2022 |archive-date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807055408/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001898496/000110465922075506/tm222601-15_s4a.htm |url-status=live }}

| num_employees = {{circa|1,700}} (2023){{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1898496/000162828024011316/gety-20231231.htm |title=2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K) |date=March 15, 2024 |publisher=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission}}

| divisions = Getty Productions

| subsid = {{unbulleted list |iStock |Unsplash |Photos.com}}

| homepage = {{URL|https://gettyimages.com/}}

| footnotes =

| intl =

| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1995|3|14}} (as Getty Investments, LLC.)

| location_city = Seattle, Washington

| location_country = U.S.

| location =

}}

Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (stylized as gettyimages) is a visual media company and supplier of stock images, editorial photography, video, and music for business and consumers, with a library of over 477 million assets. It targets three markets—creative professionals (advertising and graphic design), the media (print and online publishing), and corporate (in-house design, marketing and communication departments).

Getty Images has distribution offices around the world and capitalizes on the Internet for distribution with over 2.3 billion searches annually on its sites. As Getty Images has acquired other older photo agencies and archives, it has digitized their collections, enabling online distribution. Getty Images operates a large commercial website that clients use to search and browse for images, purchase usage rights, and download images. Image prices vary according to resolution and type of rights. The company also offers custom photo services for corporate clients. In January 2025, it was announced that the company would be merging with Shutterstock.{{Cite web |title=Getty Images and Shutterstock to Merge, Creating a Premier Visual Content Company |url=https://investors.gettyimages.com/news-releases/news-release-details/getty-images-and-shutterstock-merge-creating-premier-visual}}

History

In 1995, Mark Getty and chief executive officer Jonathan Klein co-founded Getty Investments LLC in London. Mark Getty is the company's chairman. In September 1997, Getty Communications, as it was called at the time, merged with PhotoDisc, Inc. to form Getty Images. The company relocated to Seattle two years later and expanded in the United States, reaching 2,000 employees by 2006. In April 2003, Getty Images entered into a partnership with Agence France-Presse (AFP) to market each other's images.{{Cite press release|title=Getty Images and Agence France-Presse (AFP) Enter Into Partnership to Increase Breadth, Depth, Reach and Quality |date=1 April 2003 |publisher=Getty Images |url=http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=66 |access-date=23 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024125740/http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=66 |archive-date=24 October 2008 }}

Getty Images acquired the Michael Ochs Archives in February 2007.{{cite web|url=http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=151&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711091018/http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=151&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2011 |title=Getty Images Acquires the Michael Ochs Archives |date=27 February 2007 |publisher=Getty Images |access-date=11 May 2010 }} The Michael Ochs Archives were described by The New York Times as "the premier source of musician photography in the world".{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/arts/music/28schw.html |title=They Had Faces Then: An Archive Keeps Stars Ever Young |last=Schwarz |first=Alan |date=28 May 2006 |work=The New York Times |access-date=11 May 2010 |archive-date=15 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415123123/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/28/arts/music/28schw.html |url-status=live }}

In 2008, the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman (H&F) acquired Getty Images for $2.4 billion. In 2012, H&F put Getty up for sale. As of the ensuing sale to Carlyle Group, the company was said to have an archive that included 80 million stills and illustrations.[https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/carlyle-in-3-3-billion-deal-for-getty-images/ "Carlyle in $3.3 Billion Deal for Getty Images"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215144654/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/08/15/carlyle-in-3-3-billion-deal-for-getty-images/ |date=15 February 2018 }}, New York Times Dealbook, 15 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2012. The company was acquired by the Getty family in 2018.

The company moved to its current headquarters, in the Union Station office complex in Seattle's International District, in 2011.{{cite news |date=12 August 2011 |title=Getty Images moving HQ to International District |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2015896230_getty13.html |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=1 December 2019}}

In 2015, Jonathan Klein became the company's chairman and Dawn Airey was hired as chief executive officer (CEO) of Getty Images.{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0f9b06e8-5e49-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124094606/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0f9b06e8-5e49-11e5-a28b-50226830d644.html#slide0 |archive-date=24 November 2015 |title=Dawn Airey takes over from Jonathan Klein as Getty Images boss |website=Financial Times |date=20 September 2015 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 February 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/21/dawn-airey-joins-getty-images-as-ceo|title=Dawn Airey joins Getty Images as CEO|author=Jasper Jackson|work=The Guardian|date=21 September 2015|access-date=14 December 2016|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021130526/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/sep/21/dawn-airey-joins-getty-images-as-ceo|url-status=live}}{{cite press release|url=http://press.gettyimages.com/getty-images-appoints-dawn-airey-as-chief-executive-officer/|title=Getty Images appoints Dawn Airey as Chief Executive Officer|publisher=Getty Images Press Room|access-date=2 February 2016|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711114350/http://press.gettyimages.com/getty-images-appoints-dawn-airey-as-chief-executive-officer/|url-status=live}} Airey remained in the role until 31 December 2018, at which time she became a non-executive director member of its board and Craig Peters was appointed CEO.{{cite web|access-date=2020-08-09|title=Dawn Airey|url=http://press.gettyimages.com/executives/dawn-airey/|website=Getty Images|archive-date=11 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711114408/http://press.gettyimages.com/executives/dawn-airey/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Getty Images introduced Market Freeze, simplifying exclusivity of rights-managed images.{{Cite web|url=http://www.selling-stock.com/Article/getty-to-push-exclusive-rm|title=Getty To Push Exclusive RM|last=Pickerell|first=Jim|date=13 March 2019|website=Selling Stock|access-date=10 December 2019|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021172116/https://www.selling-stock.com/Article/getty-to-push-exclusive-rm|url-status=live}} Later that year, it announced that due to customers' changing needs, it plans to phase out rights-managed imagery by 2020 in favor of royalty-free images.{{Cite web|url=http://app.engage.gettyimages.com/e/es?s=1591793372&e=3447322&elqTrackId=178baed6532740e59ffea78497faafe5&elq=927b9b7f079b488291cb1c4a4e795486&elqaid=30592&elqat=1|title=Service Announcement: Important licensing changes that will affect your images|last=Banwell|first=Paul|date=7 November 2019|website=Getty Images|access-date=10 December 2019|archive-date=10 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210124952/http://app.engage.gettyimages.com/e/es?s=1591793372&e=3447322&elqTrackId=178baed6532740e59ffea78497faafe5&elq=927b9b7f079b488291cb1c4a4e795486&elqaid=30592&elqat=1|url-status=live}}

In December 2021, Getty Images announced its intention to become publicly traded once more through combination with CC Neuberger Principal Holdings II. In July 2022, the SPAC merger was completed and the newly formed parent company of Getty Images went public on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GETY.{{cite web |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/getty-images-public-company-again-51658789459 |title=Getty Images Is a Public Company Again but Its Stock Drops 2% on First Day |date=25 July 2022 |work=Barron's |first=Luisa |last=Beltran |access-date=26 July 2022 |archive-date=26 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726151918/https://www.barrons.com/articles/getty-images-public-company-again-51658789459 |url-status=live }}

Activist investor Trillium Capital made an unsolicited bid to acquire Getty for {{US$|4}}{{nbsp}}billion in April 2023{{snd}}representing nearly a 100 percent premium.{{cite news |last=Datta |first=Tiyashi |date=April 24, 2023 |title=Trillium Capital declines to give details on $4 bln Getty Images offer |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/trillium-capital-offers-buy-getty-images-values-it-395-bln-2023-04-24/ |publisher=Reuters |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425040727/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/trillium-capital-offers-buy-getty-images-values-it-395-bln-2023-04-24/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Li |first=Diana |date=April 24, 2023 |title=Getty Images Soars on Trillium Capital Offer $10 a Share |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-24/getty-images-soars-on-trillium-capital-offer-10-a-share |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=25 April 2023 |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501072713/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-24/getty-images-soars-on-trillium-capital-offer-10-a-share |url-status=live }} Getty turned down the offer questioning its credibility.{{cite news |last1=Davis |first1=Tina |last2=Fleming |first2=Zachary |date=April 25, 2023 |title=Getty Rebuffs $4 Billion Trillium Takeover Bid as Not 'Credible' |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-25/getty-rebuffs-4-billion-trillium-takeover-bid-as-not-credible |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=26 April 2023 |archive-date=25 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425220534/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-25/getty-rebuffs-4-billion-trillium-takeover-bid-as-not-credible |url-status=live }}

In September 2023, Getty announced that it was partnering with Nvidia to launch Generative AI by Getty Images, a new tool that lets people create images using Getty's library of licensed photos. Getty will use Nvidia's Edify model, which is available on Nvidia's generative AI model library Picasso.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/25/23884679/getty-ai-generative-image-platform-launch|author=Emilia David|date=September 25, 2023|title=Getty made an AI generator that only trained on its licensed images|work=Verge}} Their stock footage is used in Baby Einstein and Little Einsteins.

In January 2025, it was announced that the company would be merging with Shutterstock.{{Cite web |title=Getty Images and Shutterstock to Merge, Creating a Premier Visual Content Company |url=https://investors.gettyimages.com/news-releases/news-release-details/getty-images-and-shutterstock-merge-creating-premier-visual}}

Acquisitions

File:Photodisc website 2000.png's online image sales website (2000)]]

File:Hulton archive website 2001.png website (2001)]]

Since its formation, Getty Images has pursued an aggressive programme of acquisition, buying up many privately owned agencies that had built up the stock photography industry, from small family-run firms to larger agencies. By 1999, it had acquired one of the largest agencies, Tony Stone Images; the online art seller Art.com; the sports photography agency Allsport; the market leader in the Benelux and Scandinavia: Word View (1996, from Bert Blokhuis, four offices, for undisclosed sum); journalistic specialists Liaison Agency; Newsmakers, the first digital news photo agency; Online USA, a specialist in celebrity shots; and the Hulton Press Library, the former archive of the British photojournalistic magazine Picture Post. The Hulton collection was sold by the BBC to Brian Deutsch in 1988, when it was renamed Hulton Deutsch. In 1996, the Hulton collection was sold on once more, this time purchased by Getty Images and renamed Hulton Getty. With the acquisition of the Hulton library, Getty Images took ownership of the rights to some 15 million photographs from British press archives dating back to the nineteenth century. Hulton Getty also included photographs from the Keystone Collection, as well as images by notable photographers such as Bert Hardy, Bill Brandt, Weegee and Ernst Haas.{{cite web

|url=http://hultongetty.com/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=hulton&_IXSESSION_=&search-form=about.html&submit-button=search

|title=About Hulton Archive

|year=2001

|publisher=Hulton Archive

|access-date=14 August 2009

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011021133300/http://hultongetty.com/ixbin/hixclient.exe?_IXDB_=hulton&_IXSESSION_=&search-form=about.html&submit-button=search

|archive-date=21 October 2001

}} (archived on the Web Archive)

Getty has branched out into stock audio, music and sound effects, and also video with the acquisition of EyeWire and Energy Film Library.{{Cite book

|last=Gross |first=Larry P.

|author2=Katz, John Stuart |author3=Ruby, Jay

|title=Image ethics in the digital age

|publisher=University of Minnesota Press

|year=2003

|isbn=978-0-8166-3824-6

}} Getty has partnered with other companies including Slidely for companies and advertisers to use the Getty Images video library of around 2 million videos.{{Cite web|url=https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/slidely-promo.html|title=New Promo Feature from Slidely Aims to Make Every Marketer Into a Video Creator: But Does it Succeed?|website=smallbiztrends.com|language=en-US|access-date=11 May 2017|date=6 October 2016|archive-date=6 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406043557/https://smallbiztrends.com/2016/10/slidely-promo.html|url-status=live}}

In 2000, Getty acquired one of its main competitors, Archive Photos of New York (a division of The Image Bank), for US$183 million. The Archive Photos library was combined with the Hulton Getty collection to form a new subsidiary, Hulton Archive. Archive Photos was formed in 1990 from the merger of Pictorial Parade (est. 1935) and Frederick Lewis Stock Photos (est. 1938), two well-established US photo agencies. Their collections included archive images from The New York Times, Metronome and George Eastman House, and works by photographers such as Ruth Orkin, Anacleto Rapping, Deborah Feingold, Murray Garrett, Nat Fein and John Filo.

Further acquisitions followed, with the purchase in 2004 of image.net for US$20 million.{{cite web

|url=http://www.image.net/

|title=About image.net

|access-date=14 May 2007

|archive-date=22 April 2005

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050422001239/http://www.image.net/

|url-status=live

}} On 9 February 2006, the microstock photo website iStockphoto was acquired by Getty Images for US$50 million.{{cite web

|url = http://www.abouttheimage.com/2316/getty_acquires_istockphoto_for_50_million/author2

|title = Getty Images Buys iStockPhoto.com For $50 Million

|publisher = abouttheimage.com

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090127050720/http://abouttheimage.com/2316/getty_acquires_istockphoto_for_50_million/author2

|archive-date = 27 January 2009

}} In 2007, Getty successfully purchased its largest competitor, MediaVast, for $207 million. The acquisition gave Getty Images control of WireImage (Entertainment, creative, and sports photography), FilmMagic (fashion and red carpet photography), and Contour Photos (portrait and studio photography). Getty Images also acquired other subsidiaries, including Master Delegates, which includes Isifa Image Service in Prague and Laura Ronchi in Italy.{{cite web

|url=http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=131

|title=Getty Images Acquires Its Italian Master Delegate, Laura Ronchi, S.p.A.

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024125728/http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=131

|archive-date=24 October 2008

}} In 2008, Getty purchased Redferns Music Picture Library, the music photo library built up by British jazz photographer David Redfern.{{cite news| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11185668/David-Redfern-obituary.html| title = David Redfern obituary| date = 25 October 2014| access-date = 14 April 2018| publisher = telegraph.co.uk| archive-date = 15 April 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180415150300/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11185668/David-Redfern-obituary.html| url-status = live}}

On 23 October 2008, Getty Images announced their intention to buy Jupitermedia's online images division, Jupiterimages, for $96 million in cash.{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE49M50420081023 |title=Jupitermedia to sell online image unit to Getty |date=23 October 2008 |publisher=Reuters |access-date=14 August 2009 |first=Savio |last=D'Souza |archive-date=26 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026050342/http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE49M50420081023 |url-status=live }} The sale went ahead in February 2009; Jupiterimages (including the sites stock.xchng and StockXpert) is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Getty. Jupitermedia, now trading as WebMediaBrands, continues its Internet publishing business, which they didn't sell to Getty Images.{{cite web

|url = http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=192&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090228031805/http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=192&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 28 February 2009

|title = Jupitermedia Announces Completion Of Sale Of Jupiterimages To Getty Images and Change Of Jupitermedia Name to WebMediaBrands

|date = 23 February 2009

|access-date = 13 August 2009

}}

On 25 January 2016, Corbis announced that it had sold its image licensing business, including the Corbis Images, Corbis Motion and Veer libraries and their associated assets, to Unity Glory, an affiliate of Visual China Group—Getty's exclusive distributor in China. Concurrently, it was announced that VCG would, after a transition period, license distribution and marketing of the Corbis library outside of China to Getty. Getty now manages Corbis's physical archives on behalf of VCG and Unity Glory.{{cite web|title=Bill Gates' Corbis Images Sold to Visual China Group|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/bill-gates-corbis-images-sold-to-visual-china-1201687743/|website=Variety|access-date=26 January 2016|date=25 January 2016|archive-date=26 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126001537/http://variety.com/2016/digital/asia/bill-gates-corbis-images-sold-to-visual-china-1201687743/|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|title=The Decade-Long Image Licensing War Is Suddenly Over|url=https://time.com/4190784/image-licensing-war-is-over/|access-date=26 January 2016|magazine=Time|archive-date=29 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929071422/https://time.com/4190784/image-licensing-war-is-over/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://nppa.org/news/corbis-sold-gettys-china-based-investment-group|title=Corbis Sold To Getty's China-Based Investment Group|author=Donald R. Winslow|publisher=National Press Photographers Association|access-date=5 June 2018|date=22 January 2016|archive-date=15 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715011621/https://nppa.org/news/corbis-sold-gettys-china-based-investment-group|url-status=live}}

In March 2021, Getty Images acquired Unsplash, a free-to-use stock photography website, for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite web|last=Simpson|first=Meagan|date=2021-03-30|title=Unsplash to be acquired by Getty Images {{!}} BetaKit|url=https://betakit.com/unsplash-to-be-acquired-by-getty-images/|access-date=2021-03-30|website=BetaKit|language=en-CA|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330165323/https://betakit.com/unsplash-to-be-acquired-by-getty-images/|url-status=live}}

Corporate ownership and management

In February 2008, it was announced that Getty Images would be acquired by the private equity firm Hellman & Friedman in a transaction valued at an estimated US$2.4 billion.{{cite press release |url=http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=171 |title=Getty Images Press Release |date=25 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229030957/http://media.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=171 |archive-date=29 February 2008 }} On 2 July 2008, Getty Images announced the completion of its acquisition. Getty Images common stock ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange at the close of the acquisition and was delisted from the NYSE.{{cite press release |url=http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=179&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release |title=Getty Images Announces Completion of Acquisition by Hellman & Friedman |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=9 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630223723/http://company.gettyimages.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=179&isource=corporate_website_ind_press_release |archive-date=30 June 2011 }}

In 2012, H&F engaged investment bankers to sell the company. While a price of $4 billion was initially discussed, in August when the private equity firm Carlyle Group emerged as the likely acquirer, the price under consideration was said to be $3.3–3.4 billion. CVC Capital Partners Ltd. was also said to have been bidding but had yet to top Carlyle's price.Alesci, Cristina, and Jeffrey McCracken, [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-14/carlyle-group-said-to-be-leading-bidder-for-getty-images.html "Carlyle Group Said to Be Leading Bidder for Getty Images"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816010559/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-14/carlyle-group-said-to-be-leading-bidder-for-getty-images.html |date=16 August 2012 }}, Bloomberg, 14 August 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2012. The sale to Carlyle thereafter was announced at $3.3 billion, with co-founders Getty and Klein and the Getty family all carrying their investments over into the new ownership structure. Getty continues to serve as chairman and Klein as chief executive.

In September 2018, the Getty family announced it would acquire majority stake in the company from The Carlyle Group.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/getty-images-ma/getty-family-to-buy-majority-stake-in-getty-images-from-carlyle-idUSL3N1VQ4JK|title=Getty family to buy majority stake in Getty Images from Carlyle|date=4 September 2018|work=Reuters|access-date=4 September 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904225951/https://www.reuters.com/article/getty-images-ma/getty-family-to-buy-majority-stake-in-getty-images-from-carlyle-idUSL3N1VQ4JK|url-status=live}} In July 2022, the company went public again.

Gallery

File:Getty Images, Eastcastle Street, London.JPG, London]]

The Getty Images Gallery was located at 46 Eastcastle Street, London.{{cite web | title=Photographs for Charity by Cambridge Jones at Getty Images Gallery in London | website=Artdaily | date=2008 | url=https://artdaily.cc/news/24039/Photographs-for-Charity-by--Cambridge-Jones-at-Getty-Images-Gallery-in-London | access-date=19 May 2023}}

In 2008, it hosted an exhibition of children for Barnardo's child adoption agency, in an exhibition called "Home Time", aimed at helping to find homes for hundreds of children waiting for adoption. It included photographs by celebrity photographer Cambridge Jones, as well as by Cherie Blair, Bruce Oldfield, Andrew Lincoln, Gail Porter, and Claudia Winkleman.

The gallery permanently closed in January 2019. {{cite web | title=London's Getty Images Gallery is now permanently closed, Jan 2019 | website=Urban75 | date=2019 | url=https://www.urban75.org/blog/londons-getty-images-gallery-is-now-permanently-closed-jan-2019/ | access-date=9 Sep 2024}}

Copyright enforcement and controversy

File:Panorama of Stockholm with Getty Images watermark.jpg with "Getty Images", the author's name, and a file-ID number. This watermark exists on all images on Getty Images when previewing the images, to prevent copyright infringement.]]

Beginning in 2008, Getty Images has been the subject of controversy for its methods of pursuing copyright enforcement on behalf of its photographers. Rather than pursue a policy of sending "cease and desist" notices, Getty typically mails a demand letter that claims substantial monetary damages from owners of websites it believes infringed on their photographers' copyrights. Getty commonly tries to intimidate website owners by sending collection agents, even though a demand letter does not create a debt.

One photographer noted, "Courts don't like to be used as a means of extortion." In one case, Getty sent a church in Lichfield, Staffordshire, a £6,000 bill for photographs it used on its website, apparently placed there by a church volunteer. In this case, the church offered to pay Getty what it thought was a reasonable amount. The diocese's communications director said:

Getty was not playing ball or following the normal litigation or dispute resolution procedures and [I advised the church] to ignore them. We don't deal with bullies; we deal with legal threats appropriately. I told [Getty] by letter that's what [the church was] doing, that we were not going to play, and didn't hear any more.

The Guardian described other instances in which Getty or other stock photo businesses dropped a claim when a website owner refused to pay and hired a lawyer. A law firm was quoted as saying: "Once we get involved generally Getty does back off."Grossman, Wendy, [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/nov/27/internet-photography "Is a picture really worth £1,000?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021135200/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/nov/27/internet-photography |date=21 October 2021 }}, The Guardian, 27 November 2008. Retrieved November 2011.

In 2009, Oscar Michelen, a New York attorney who focuses on such damages claims, said: "The damages they're requesting aren't equal to the copyright infringement," and "there's no law that says definitively what images are worth in the digital age."{{cite news |date=13 September 2009 |first=David |last=Lazarus |author-link=David Lazarus |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-13-fi-lazarus13-story.html |title=Controlling illegal use of copyrighted material on the Web - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |access-date=12 September 2013 |archive-date=2 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902124913/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/13/business/fi-lazarus13 |url-status=live }} He called Getty's effort to assess four-figure fines "a legalized form of extortion".

In an effort to combat online copyright infringement, in March 2014 Getty Images made over 35 million images available free for non-commercial online use via embedding with attribution and a link back to the Getty Images website.{{cite web|last=Laurent |first=Olivier |title=Getty Images makes 35 million images free in fight against copyright infringement |url=http://www.bjp-online.com/2014/03/getty-images-makes-35-million-images-free-in-fight-against-copyright-infringement/ |date=5 March 2014 |work=British Journal of Photography |access-date=6 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306090832/http://www.bjp-online.com/2014/03/getty-images-makes-35-million-images-free-in-fight-against-copyright-infringement/ |archive-date=6 March 2014 }}{{cite news|last=Brustein|first=Joshua|title=Since It Can't Sue Us All, Getty Images Embraces Embedded Photos|url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-06/since-it-cant-sue-us-all-getty-images-embraces-embedded-photos|access-date=7 March 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=6 March 2014|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306215329/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-03-06/since-it-cant-sue-us-all-getty-images-embraces-embedded-photos|url-status=dead}} According to Getty Images executive Craig Peters, "The principle is to turn what's infringing use with good intentions, turning that into something that's valid licensed use with some benefits going back to the photographer".{{cite web|last=Brandom|first=Russell|title=The world's largest photo service just made its pictures free to use|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/3/5/5475202/getty-images-made-its-pictures-free-to-use|date=5 March 2014|work=The Verge|access-date=7 March 2014|archive-date=7 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307025551/http://www.theverge.com/2014/3/5/5475202/getty-images-made-its-pictures-free-to-use|url-status=live}}

On 15 February 2018, Google Images' interface was modified in order to meet the terms of a settlement and licensing partnership with Getty. The "View image" button (a deep link to the image itself on its source server) was removed from image thumbnails. This change is intended to discourage users from directly viewing the full-sized image (although doing so using a browser's context menu on the embedded thumbnail is not frustrated), and encourage them to view the image in its appropriate context (which may also include attribution and copyright information) on its respective web page. The "Search by image" button has also been downplayed, as reverse image search can be used to find higher-resolution copies of copyrighted images. Google also agreed to make the copyright disclaimer within the interface more prominent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17017864/google-removes-view-image-button-from-search-results|title=Google removes 'view image' button from search results to make pics harder to steal|work=The Verge|access-date=16 February 2018|archive-date=15 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215235818/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/15/17017864/google-removes-view-image-button-from-search-results|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/internet-rages-after-google-removes-view-image-button-bowing-to-getty/|title=Internet rages after Google removes "view image" button, bowing to Getty|last=Amadeo|first=Ron|date=16 February 2018|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=12 April 2019|archive-date=25 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325004331/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/internet-rages-after-google-removes-view-image-button-bowing-to-getty/|url-status=live}}

=Copyright infringement lawsuits=

In 2009, Car-Freshner Corp., makers of Little Trees, filed a lawsuit against Getty Images in U.S. Federal Court, Northern District New York (Case 7:09-cv-01252-GTS -GHL).{{cite web|title=No. 7:09-CV-1252 (GTS/GHL)|url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?q=getty+images&hl=en&as_sdt=40006&case=3004682583920192380&scilh=0|website=Google Scholar|publisher=United States District Court, N.D. New York.|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322235430/https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?q=getty+images&hl=en&as_sdt=40006&case=3004682583920192380&scilh=0|url-status=live}} Car-Freshner claimed that Getty Images had in its catalog photos that included the famous "tree-shaped" trademarked car fresheners. In 2011, Getty Images attempted to have the case dismissed, but its motion was denied.{{cite web |first=Oscar |last=Michelen |url=http://www.courtroomstrategy.com/2011/10/makers-of-pine-tree-deodorizers-allowed-to-proceed-with-lawsuit-against-getty-images/ |title=Makers of Pine-Tree Deodorizers Allowed to Proceed With Lawsuit Against Getty Images |publisher=Courtroomstrategy.com |date=4 October 2011 |access-date=21 September 2012 |archive-date=13 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213115358/http://www.courtroomstrategy.com/2011/10/makers-of-pine-tree-deodorizers-allowed-to-proceed-with-lawsuit-against-getty-images/ |url-status=live }} In 2012, Getty Images agreed to settle by paying $100,000 to Car-Freshener Corp., but admitted no wrongdoing.{{cite web |first=Oscar |last=Michelen |url=http://www.courtroomstrategy.com/2012/08/getty-images-pays-100k-to-settle-car-freshener-suit/ |title=Getty Images Pays $100K to Settle Car-Freshner Suit |publisher=Courtroomstrategy.com |date=28 August 2012 |access-date=21 September 2012 |archive-date=4 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904011048/http://www.courtroomstrategy.com/2012/08/getty-images-pays-100k-to-settle-car-freshener-suit/ |url-status=live }}

In September 2013, Avril Nolan brought a $450,000 suit against Getty Images. Nolan alleged that Getty Images improperly let her image be used in advertisements that depicted her as HIV-positive. She claimed the ad's depiction of her as HIV-positive (she is not) hurt her personal and professional relationships and caused her emotional distress.{{cite news | url=https://nypost.com/2013/09/19/woman-sues-getty-after-photo-appears-in-hiv-positive-ad/ | work=New York Post | first=Julia | last=Marsh | title=Model sues after HIV-positive ad | access-date=13 December 2017 | archive-date=17 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117011954/https://nypost.com/2013/09/19/woman-sues-getty-after-photo-appears-in-hiv-positive-ad/ | url-status=live }}{{cite news | url= http://observer.com/2013/09/greenpoint-model-tired-of-telling-dates-shes-hiv-free-sues-getty/ | work= The New York Observer | first= Órla | last= Ryan | date= 20 September 2013 | access-date= 22 April 2014 | title= Greenpoint Model Tired of Telling Dates She's HIV Free Sues Getty | archive-date= 12 October 2014 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141012032039/http://observer.com/2013/09/greenpoint-model-tired-of-telling-dates-shes-hiv-free-sues-getty/ | url-status= live }} In March 2014 a judge ruled the lawsuit will be taken to court rather than dismissed.{{cite news | url=https://nypost.com/2014/03/10/model-wins-round-in-hiv-ad-lawsuit/ | work=New York Post | first=Julia | last=Marsh | date=10 March 2014 | access-date=22 April 2014 | title=Model wins round in HIV-ad lawsuit | archive-date=15 March 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315230352/http://nypost.com/2014/03/10/model-wins-round-in-hiv-ad-lawsuit/ | url-status=live }} Getty Images settled with Nolan in January 2015.{{cite web|last1=Butler|first1=Office of Joy R.|title=More Lessons on How Not to Use Stock Images. Improper Use of Stock Image in HIV Ad Results in Successful Lawsuits against Getty Images and Advertiser|url=http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a01c793c-67d9-4dd7-a8d1-7c5c51241534|website=Lexology|date=8 February 2016|publisher=8 February 2016|access-date=13 July 2016|archive-date=22 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822044243/http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=a01c793c-67d9-4dd7-a8d1-7c5c51241534|url-status=live}}

In November 2013, Getty and Agence France-Presse were ordered to pay $1.2 million compensation to freelance photojournalist Daniel Morel for using his images posted on Twitter related to the 2010 Haiti earthquake without his permission, in violation of copyright and Twitter's terms of service.{{cite news|last=Ax|first=Joseph|title=Photographer wins $1.2 million from companies that took pictures off Twitter|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-media-copyright-twitter-idUSBRE9AL16F20131122|newspaper=Reuters|date=22 November 2013|access-date=25 November 2013|archive-date=21 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121234303/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/22/us-media-copyright-twitter-idUSBRE9AL16F20131122|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Laurent |first=Olivier |title=Getty Images disappointed at $1.2m Morel verdict |url=http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2308888/getty-images-disappointed-at-usd12m-morel-verdict |date=24 November 2013 |work=British Journal of Photography |publisher=Incisive Media |access-date=25 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126170747/http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/2308888/getty-images-disappointed-at-usd12m-morel-verdict |archive-date=26 November 2013 }}

In July 2016, Getty was sued, unsuccessfully,{{Cite web|url=https://petapixel.com/2016/11/22/1-billion-getty-images-lawsuit-ends-not-bang-whimper/|title=$1 Billion Getty Images Lawsuit Ends Not with a Bang, but a Whimper|website=petapixel.com|date=22 November 2016|access-date=2020-02-16|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216104525/https://petapixel.com/2016/11/22/1-billion-getty-images-lawsuit-ends-not-bang-whimper/|url-status=live}} for over $1 billion by Carol Highsmith, an American photographer notable for donating her 100,000+ image collection, royalty-free, to the Library of Congress, when Highsmith found that Getty had been selling unauthorized licenses of her work (an instance of copyfraud).{{cite web|last1=Hiltzik|first1=Michael|title=Photographer sues Getty Images for $1 billion after she's billed for her own photo|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-getty-copyright-20160729-snap-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=3 August 2016|date=29 July 2016|archive-date=1 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801013239/http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-getty-copyright-20160729-snap-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Farivar|first1=Cyrus|title=Photographer sues Getty Images for selling photos she donated to public|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/07/photographer-sues-getty-images-for-selling-photos-she-donated-to-public/?comments=1|website=Ars Technica|access-date=28 July 2016|date=28 July 2016|archive-date=30 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160730165049/http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/07/photographer-sues-getty-images-for-selling-photos-she-donated-to-public/?comments=1|url-status=live}} Highsmith found out about this when she received a letter from a law firm representing Getty, demanding $120 for displaying her pictures on a personal website of hers.{{cite news|last1=Hiltzik|first1=Michael|title=Getty Images will bill you thousands to use a photo that belongs to the public. Is that legal?|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-getty-photos-20160801-snap-story.html|newspaper=LA Times|access-date=2 August 2016|date=2 August 2016|archive-date=3 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803213552/http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-getty-photos-20160801-snap-story.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalentertainment/2016/08/03/pay-up-getty-sends-trolling-letter-to-photographer-highsmith-demanding-money-for-her-own-photos/#3a23d5a6596e|title=Getty Likely To Settle $1B Suit By Photographer For Appropriating Her Public-Domain Work|work=Forbes|access-date=4 November 2018|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104171327/https://www.forbes.com/sites/legalentertainment/2016/08/03/pay-up-getty-sends-trolling-letter-to-photographer-highsmith-demanding-money-for-her-own-photos/#3a23d5a6596e|url-status=live}}

In August 2016, Zuma Press, an independent press agency, filed suit against Getty for alleged copyright violations and unauthorized licensing of more than 47,000 images.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/getty-images-sued-again-over-alleged-misuse-of-over-47000-photos/|title=Getty Images sued again over alleged misuse of over 47,000 photos|publisher=Ars Technica|year=2016|access-date=4 November 2018|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170213/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/getty-images-sued-again-over-alleged-misuse-of-over-47000-photos/|url-status=live}}

= Claiming copyright over public domain content =

Getty Images has continued the practice that Corbis (whose license it acquired in 2016) has been criticized for of claiming copyright, watermarking and selling images that are in public domain, including images related to The Holocaust like the Warsaw Ghetto boy photo,{{cite book |last=Struk |first=Janina |date=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P0CnKQpDIL8C |title=Photographing the Holocaust: Interpretations of the Evidence |publisher=I.B.Tauris |pages=208–209 |isbn=978-1-86064-546-4 |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113183109/https://books.google.com/books?id=P0CnKQpDIL8C |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/frightened-jewish-families-surrender-to-nazi-soldiers-at-news-photo/613463274|title=Nazis Arresting Jews in Warsaw Ghetto|website=Getty Images|date=7 October 2016 |access-date=1 November 2018|archive-date=1 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801022843/https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/frightened-jewish-families-surrender-to-nazi-soldiers-at-news-photo/613463274|url-status=live}} the Polish cavalry in Sochaczew photograph,{{cite web |title=Battle of the Bzura. Polish cavalry in Sochaczew in 1939.World War II |url=https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/battle-of-the-bzura-polish-cavalry-in-sochaczew-in-1939-news-photo/113494246 |website=Getty Images |date=2 May 2011 |access-date=13 November 2018 |archive-date=13 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113210500/https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/battle-of-the-bzura-polish-cavalry-in-sochaczew-in-1939-news-photo/113494246 |url-status=live }} or images created by NASA. Getty has also tried to collect fees from photographers for use of their own images that they had previously put in the public domain.[https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190329/15352641901/getty-images-sued-yet-again-trying-to-license-public-domain-images.shtml Getty Images Sued Yet Again For Trying To License Public Domain Images] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801031258/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20190329/15352641901/getty-images-sued-yet-again-trying-to-license-public-domain-images.shtml |date=1 August 2020 }}, Mike Masnick, techDirt, 1 April 2019

Public-domain photos from historical photographers such as Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans have long been available for unrestricted downloading from the United States Library of Congress. The exact same images are also available from Getty Images, subject to a licensing fee of up to $5,000 for a six-month term. This demonstrates an example of copyfraud.

= Controversy over AI-generated art =

On January 17, 2023, Getty Images said it was suing Stability AI over the use of Getty's images to train AI art generator Stable Diffusion and for imitating the Getty Images' trademark.{{cite web |url=https://newsroom.gettyimages.com/en/getty-images/getty-images-statement |title=Getty Images Statement |author= |date=17 January 2023 |website=newsroom.gettyimages.com/ |publisher= |access-date=24 January 2023 |quote= |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124151734/https://newsroom.gettyimages.com/en/getty-images/getty-images-statement |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/17/23558516/ai-art-copyright-stable-diffusion-getty-images-lawsuit |title=Getty Images is suing the creators of AI art tool Stable Diffusion for scraping its content |author=James Vincent |date=17 January 2023 |website=The Verge |publisher= |access-date=24 January 2023 |quote= |archive-date=23 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123232242/https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/17/23558516/ai-art-copyright-stable-diffusion-getty-images-lawsuit |url-status=live }} Getty released its own AI image generator trained on its library of licensed stock images in September 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/getty-images-launches-its-own-commercialy-safe-ai-image-generator/|title=Getty Images launches its own 'commercially safe' AI image generator|last=Ortiz|first=Sabrina|website=ZDNET|date=25 September 2023|access-date=22 February 2025}}