What happened
Getty Images announced a multi-year "display agreement" with OpenAI on 21 June 2026, integrating its licensed content into ChatGPT's search and discovery experiences. This partnership allows ChatGPT to surface Getty photographs in response to image-related queries, shifting from synthetic approximations to licensed visuals. The financial terms and specific duration of the multi-year deal remain undisclosed, and the announcement does not specify whether OpenAI can use Getty's images for future model training. Following the announcement, Getty shares surged over 200% in premarket trading before settling.
Why it matters
This agreement redefines Getty's approach to generative AI, moving from litigation to partnership after the UK High Court largely rejected its copyright claims against Stability AI in November 2025. For procurement teams, this deal establishes a precedent for licensing content for AI display, but the lack of clarity on training rights creates a critical gap for content creators and legal teams. Content licensing negotiations will now require explicit clauses addressing AI model training, as "display" no longer implicitly covers all AI use cases.
