Shutterstock is pioneering a research license model with Lightricks, lowering the barriers to AI training data

Shutterstock is changing the way AI companies access training data through a new “license to research” approach, launching first with a creative AI technology company Lightricks. The partnership announced today enables Lightricks to train its LTXV open source video generation model using Shutterstock’s extensive HD and 4K video library.

The new licensing model addresses a critical challenge in AI development: the high cost of accessing quality training data. This allows companies to start with a smaller research license for testing and experimentation before committing to more expensive commercial licenses.

Making ethical AI development more accessible to startups

“Many companies and model trainers have gone down the path of unauthorized data mining (rather than) making the necessary investment to achieve the quality and level of confidence needed to develop commercially viable models,” said Daniel Mandel, Global Head of Data Licensing and AI at Shutterstock, in an exclusive interview with VentureBeat. “However, we do not believe that financial investment should be a barrier for those who want to enter this space with an ethical approach.”

This two-phase approach could change the way startups approach AI development. Craig Andrews, Global PR Manager of Lightricks, describes it as “a tipping point for smaller, more nimble developers who want to explore innovative applications of generative AI without the heavy upfront costs of traditional licensing”.

Legal protection and fair compensation in the age of AI

The timing is important, coming amid growing legal scrutiny over AI data training practices. Several major artificial intelligence companies are facing lawsuits over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted material to train models. Shutterstock’s approach offers a legal alternative while ensuring content creators are compensated.

“We’re setting a standard for ethical AI development while ensuring creators are fairly compensated for their work,” Andrews explains. “This approach not only fosters trust in the creative ecosystem, but also establishes a sustainable framework for responsible AI innovation.”

Revenue sharing: A win-win for creators and AI companies

Shutterstock has implemented a revenue sharing model where participants receive 20% of revenue from data licensing deals. Contributors can also opt out of having their content used to train the AI, though Mandel notes that only about 1% chose to do so.

Lightricks plans to use the licensed video data for improvement LTXVits open source video generation model released last month. The model has already gained considerable popularity with “thousands of downloads GitHub and Hugging face,” according to Andrews. One notable use case is the generation of real-time video for interactive e-commerce.

The partnership aims to address the technical challenges of AI video generation, specifically motion sequencing in longer videos. “One of the biggest technical hurdles in AI video generation is achieving consistent motion and structure over longer video segments without sacrificing quality,” says Andrews. “Shutterstock’s high-quality video library provides an extensive dataset that helps us meet this challenge.”

For Shutterstock, this partnership represents a strategic shift in its business model. The company has already established partnerships with major AI companies including Nvidia, Metaand OpenAI. Mandel emphasizes that the research license model can democratize access to high-quality learning data for smaller organizations and research institutions.

Setting new industry standards for ethical AI development

The collaboration also reflects a growing trend toward transparency and ethical considerations in AI development. Lightricks has made LTXV open source to encourage collaboration and innovation, while Shutterstock’s licensing approach ensures content creators are appropriately rewarded.

“The important message here is that companies, regardless of size or funding, no longer have an excuse to delete unlicensed content for training purposes,” Mandel concludes. “There’s a better way to tap into this growing market.”

This partnership could set a new standard for how AI companies access training data, potentially impacting industry practices as concerns about AI training data sources continue to grow. The success of this model could determine whether other content providers follow Shutterstock’s lead in creating more flexible and affordable licensing options for AI development.