Apple Paid Shutterstock to Use Their Images For AI Training

The account further details the use of Photobucket, an image and video hosting website, for AI training, citing the library’s CEO, Ted Leonard. Leonard mentioned ongoing discussions with various tech firms to license Photobucket’s vast collection of 13 billion photos and videos for training generative AI models, with prices ranging from 5 cents to $1 per photo and $1+ per video, viewing licensing data as an alternative to selling ads

Regarding the legality of this approach, the CEO claims that an update to the company’s terms of service in October 2023, which granted Photobucket the “unrestricted right” to sell any uploaded content for training AI systems, legitimizes the sales and puts Photobucket on “solid legal ground”.

What do you think about media libraries selling the data of their users for AI training? Should it be legal even if users are against their materials being sold for this specific purpose? Leave your thoughts down in the comments!

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