Getty Images and Perplexity announced a global multi-year licensing agreement on October 31, 2025. The deal allows Perplexity to show Getty’s creative and editorial images across its AI search and discovery tools. The company's goal is to provide more comprehensive answers by combining text with licensed visuals.
Perplexity will integrate Getty’s API into its platform. The integration provides on-demand access to premium images, complete with full credits and source links. The partners also plan more precise guidance for users on lawful reuse, which supports proper licensing across the service.
The deal reflects a broader trend in AI search. Platforms are increasingly seeking direct content licenses to lower legal risks and improve trustworthiness. With AI-generated answers being visual, attribution and provenance continue to be essential for users' trust.
Early trading showed a positive reaction for Getty Images’ stock after the announcement. Investors read the pact as a sign that licensed media can play a larger role in AI products.
The move comes as AI firms' use of copyrighted material comes under increasing scrutiny. Getty still has a case against Stability AI regarding the alleged scraping of images. Perplexity is also being sued by two Japanese publishing companies, Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun. These conflicts are driving platforms to gain rights and better attribution.
Perplexity has responded by increasing paid partnerships with media outlets. Its publisher program shares revenue with brands including TIME and Der Spiegel. The model's idea is to align incentives while providing a more transparent source of answers generated by AI.
Experts note that licensing deals intersect with fair-use arguments in AI training cases. In addition, some experts argue that broad licensing may not be scalable for all online content, whereas targeted partnerships can mitigate risk and provide clarity for users. Courts continue to test these claims in 2025.
Against this backdrop, Getty presents the pact as support for “properly attributed content.” Perplexity emphasizes accuracy and transparent crediting as key elements of its product design. Both themes reflect the demands of regulators and publishers for transparent sourcing.
Users can expect more high-quality photos alongside answers in Perplexity. Credits and source links will appear with each image, helping one evaluate the context and learn how to license visuals. The partners say this approach will enhance reliability and clarity.
For Getty, the integration broadens distribution while preserving rights. For Perplexity, the deal adds trusted visuals that can improve engagement and retention. Together, the companies seek to set a template for licensed media in AI search.
The collaboration also signals where AI search may head next. As platforms compete, verified media, enforceable rights, and clear attribution may differentiate quality. This agreement positions both firms to meet those expectations in the months ahead.
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