What this UK case was about

Getty Images sued Stability AI (maker of Stable Diffusion) in the UK, alleging the company used millions of Getty photos without permission to train an image model. The High Court’s public judgment was issued on November 4, 2025.

The decision, in plain terms

2) Watermark/trademark issue: The judge found trademark infringement where outputs included a Getty-style watermark. This was limited to those facts and does not amount to a blanket approval of all AI training.

3) What the court did not say: It did not declare that all AI training on copyrighted images is lawful. It did not set a global rule. The judgment focused on UK law and the case record.

Why people call it “landmark”

It is one of the first detailed UK judgments on a modern AI image model. It shows how current law handles training data and model outputs—at least in the UK, on these facts. But it leaves bigger questions to future cases or legislation.

What this means outside the UK

United States

• U.S. courts have separate, ongoing lawsuits about AI training and “fair use.” No single, final rule exists yet.
• The U.S. Copyright Office (May 2025) noted that copying for training can implicate rightsholders; whether it qualifies as fair use depends on the specific facts.

Canada

• Canada has no court ruling that squarely answers whether AI training on copyrighted works is “fair dealing” or requires licenses. The framework is still being discussed.
• Canada’s “fair dealing” is narrower than U.S. “fair use,” so assumptions that training is automatically allowed are risky. Policy work is ongoing.

Practical steps for creators (music, visuals, games, branding)

Use models and tools with transparency. Prefer providers that explain training sources and offer terms suitable for commercial use. Keep a simple log of prompts, model versions, edits, and human input. This supports platform disclosures and helps answer questions later.

Avoid publishing outputs with watermarks or brand marks. If a generated image shows a logo or watermark, do not use it commercially.

License where it matters. For key identity assets (album art, game art, logos, product graphics), consider licensed stock, commissioned work, or vendors who can document their training sources.

Bottom line

The UK ruling is an important data point, not a global green light. U.S. and Canadian rules are still developing. If you publish commercially, favor transparent tools, avoid watermarks, and keep basic records of your creative steps.