Adobe reprimanded for selling ‘Ansel Adams-style’ AI-generated images

Adobe found itself in hot water this weekend after Ansel Adams’ estate publicly rebuked the company for selling generative AI imitations of the late photographer’s work. On Friday, the Adams estate posted a screenshot on Threads showing AI-generated images available on Adobe Stock that were labeled “Ansel Adams style,” telling Adobe that it was “officially on its last nerve with this behavior.”

While Adobe allows AI-generated images to be hosted and sold on its stock image platform, users are required to retain the appropriate rights or ownership to the content they upload. AdobeStock Contributor Terms It specifically prohibits content “created using prompts containing other artists’ names or created using prompts with the intent to copy another artist.”

Adobe responded to the call, saying it had removed the offending content and privately messaged Adams’ estate to contact them directly in the future. Adams’ estate, however, said it has been in direct contact with Adobe several times since August 2023.

“Assuming you want to be taken seriously about your purported commitment to ethical and responsible AI, while also demonstrating respect for the creative community, we invite you to become proactive about complaints like ours and stop put the onus on individual performers/performers. estates to continually police our IP on their platform, on their terms,” said the Adams estate in topics. “It’s past time to stop wasting resources that don’t belong to you.”

Adobe Stock Vice President Matthew Smith previously said On the edge that the company generally moderates all Adobe Stock “crowdsourced” assets before they are made available to customers, employing a “variety” of methods that include “an experienced team of moderators who review submissions.” In January 2024, Smith said the strongest action the company can take to enforce its platform rules is to block Adobe Stock users who violate them.

“We have no problem with anyone being inspired by Ansel’s photography,” said the Adams estate. “But we strongly oppose the unauthorized use of your name to sell products of any kind, including digital products, and this includes AI-generated results – regardless of whether your name was used on the input side or whether a particular template was used . was trained in his work.”

Bassil Elkadi, Director of Communications and Public Relations at Adobe, said On the edge that Adobe is “actively in contact with Ansel Adams regarding this matter” and that “appropriate action has been taken given that the user has violated the Stock terms.” Adams’ estate has since thanked Adobe for removing the images and said they hope “this time, it will last.”