Courts across the US and Europe are determining whether AI companies can legally use copyrighted artworks without creators' consent to train image-generating models, with verdicts potentially influencing AI development, licensing, and digital creation. Major lawsuits include Andersen v. Stability AI, where artists Sarah Andersen, Kelly McKernan, and Karla Ortiz are testifying against Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt over alleged illegal use of copyrighted work. Stability AI also faces lawsuits from Getty Images, which claims its AI tool was trained on millions of licensed photos without permission; litigation continues in the US, while a UK court previously ruled against Getty's copyright claims and allowed only a limited trademark ruling. Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros have filed lawsuits against Midjourney for allegedly using characters including the Star Wars universe, Marvel, and Shrek without permission, with Midjourney claiming its training was done under the "fair use" doctrine. The Copyright Office of the United States has long held that works produced solely by AI are not eligible for copyright protection. By late 2025, industry estimates place the number of generative AI copyright lawsuits over training data, graphics generated, and intellectual property rights issues at over 50.