Getty Images v. Stability AI — U.S. Copyright Action (D. Del.)
D. Del. · Getty Images (US), Inc. v. Stability AI, Inc., No. 1:23-cv-00135 (D. Del.)
Getty Images sued Stability AI in Delaware in February 2023, alleging Stable Diffusion was trained on millions of Getty's copyrighted photos and that the model reproduces Getty's distinctive watermark. A separate parallel proceeding is underway in the UK High Court.
Technical detail
Getty Images (US), Inc. v. Stability AI, Inc., No. 1:23-cv-00135 (D. Del., filed Feb. 3, 2023; Judge Jennifer L. Hall). Claims: direct copyright infringement, DMCA § 1202 (removal of CMI), trademark infringement, trademark dilution, deceptive trade practices. UK parallel: Getty Images (US), Inc. v. Stability AI Ltd., [2025] EWHC (Ch.) — trial concluded June 2025, judgment pending. U.S. case in discovery.
Who is protected: Getty Images and rights-holders whose works were scraped for Stable Diffusion training
Who must comply: Stability AI, Inc.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | D. Del. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Status | Blocked / in litigation |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2023-02-03 |
| Citation | Getty Images (US), Inc. v. Stability AI, Inc., No. 1:23-cv-00135 (D. Del.) |
| Topics | copyright and training data |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | Getty Images v. Stability AI — CourtListener 1:23-cv-00135 ↗ |
More AI rules in D. Del.
- Thomson Reuters v. Ross · In effect
Related copyright and training data rules elsewhere
- Copyright Office AI Guidance · In effect
- USPTO AI Inventorship Guidance · Repealed / replaced
- AB 2013 (Training Data Transparency) · In effect
- ELVIS Act · In effect
- SSB 5886 (WA Digital Likeness Rights) · In effect
- AR Generative AI Ownership Act (Act 927) · In effect
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