Protect Your Copyrights Against Unauthorized AI Training
Copyright Alliance Campaign
Introduction
As an iStock contributor, I received an email from the Gettyimages | iStock team about an upcoming campaign that will allow artificial intelligence (AI) to use copyrighted material without penalty. As a creator of photography, art, and writing, I oppose the use of AI and the direction it is taking. I believe in protecting and keeping the rights to my work and not having it used without my permission to train AI.
I’ve copied and pasted the information from the email I received below. Read through it, and if you’re comfortable, sign the letters located on the Copyright Alliance site and send them to Congress and the president to push against AI’s invasive training programs.
Act now to protect your copyrights against unauthorized AI training
What’s happening?
On behalf of the creative community, the Copyright Alliance has begun a grassroots campaign that encourages creators, their family members, friends, colleagues, and the general public to send letters to Members of Congress and President Trump in anticipation of the administration releasing its AI Action Plan in mid‑July 2025.
These letters urge elected officials and the government to protect the rights and livelihoods of creators by rejecting laws and policies that would allow AI companies to train on their work without consent and compensation. The letters can be found here on the Copyright Alliance site.
The Copyright Alliance, of which we’re a member, is urging everyone to go to this site and send letters today, and please spread the word to everyone you know who may also want to help:
Best wishes
The Getty Images | iStock team
Additional Copyright Alliance Resources:
Copyright Alliance Social Media Messages to Retweet/Repost:
• Twitter (X)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Bluesky
Copyright Alliance Social Media Messages for You to Use and to Ask Others to Share Across Platforms to Amplify the Campaign:
#AI companies must pay for the resources they need, just like every other business. Make your voice heard by signing our letters to the President and Congress urging them to support #copyright and creators! https://copyrightalliance.org/get‑involved/take‑action
America’s core #copyright industries add $2 trillion dollars to our GDP and employ more than 11 million workers. Sign onto our letters to Congress and the President urging them to protect creators from unlicensed #AI training on copyrighted works! https://copyrightalliance.org/get‑involved/take‑action/
Responsible and ethical development of #AI models means licensing creative works for training—not plundering stolen libraries. Make your voice heard by signing our letters to Congress and the President, urging them to protect creators and #copyright! https://copyrightalliance.org/get‑involved/take‑action/
Conclusion
While AI is a useful aid for conducting quick searches, making grammatical suggestions, providing text-to-speech, and offering other beneficial assisting tools, that's all it should be used for: assistance. It should not be used as a replacement for the craft of writing, photography, videography, music, and all other art forms.
AI generators steal the work of others. I have signed the letter with the hopes of stopping AI and AI training programs from using my and other creators’ work without permission and compensation.
Additional content from Writing Tips & More about AI, creativity, and copyright:
How Has AI Impacted Creativity?
AI takes various pieces of art from around the internet and combines them into one image. It does this based on the samples of text and sketches provided by the individual using the AI program.
How to Properly Use Images for Content Creation
Did you know you can't simply pull images off the internet from sources like Google or Pinterest and use them on your website or social media? You could get into legal trouble if you do. That’s why I’ve provided some resources where you can access royalty-free images and use them for your content.