Getty Images has faced various controversies over the years, primarily revolving around copyright enforcement, the aggressive pursuit of copyright infringement claims against small website operators, and disputes over public domain imagery. Critics and legal advocates have occasionally scrutinized the company's automated takedown notices and billing practices regarding uncredited or improperly embedded images. Additionally, debates surrounding compensation fairness for independent photojournalists and contributors, alongside ethical questions regarding the integration of generative AI training models on stock imagery platforms, have sparked ongoing industry discussions.