Can AI-generated images be legally used in work? Classification of the safest generators for commercial use

Generating images with artificial intelligence is not a very complicated task. In fact, it is so easy that this is why we see social media flooded with posters and designs made exclusively with AI. Here, what really matters are two things: Do I know how to give it the creative touch necessary to not always repeat the same thing? Can I use this legally without receiving a claim for rights?

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In the creative aspect, we can help you little, but we can assist you in the legality. Not all generative models work the same way, and many of them do not even take this into account, except for those that we are going to show you below.

Most models have been trained with internet content, without criteria when it comes to distinguishing what could be used legally or not. The results, at first glance, may seem very good (and in many cases they are), but are they legal? If you generate an image, for example, and it resembles too closely the work of an artist, the risk of that result is yours to bear, not the AI’s.

If you are creating for yourself, you may not care about this. However, professionals run too many risks if they abuse these models without knowing. This is where we need to consider the source of the data with which the model was trained and see what guarantees the company offers you if something goes wrong.

Which models are commercially safe?

Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly is one of the most secure platforms you can find today for content generation.

Firefly’s proprietary models are trained with licensed content (such as that from Adobe Stock) and public domain material, making them a commercially safe option. You currently have Image 3, Image 4, Image 4 Ultra, and Image 5 available to try for yourself.

And if you want to take a risk, Firefly also gives you the option to use other third-party models like GPT Image 2, Gemini 3 (known as Nano Banana) or Flux 1.1 Pro.

Shutterstock AI

Like Firefly, it is trained with licensed content from its own catalog and offers indemnification for the intellectual property of the generated images. Its strong point is realistic images, unlike what happens with illustrations.

Getty Images AI

Trained exclusively with the Getty image bank. From their website, they promise that you can create your own commercially safe and legally protected images. It includes automatic legal protection and has shared rights for affiliates and agencies, at least if you access the custom plans.

What should an AI that generates images have for you to use it in your work environment?

If you want to generate images with AI safely, there are two key points you should keep in mind: the source of the training data and the policies of the AI company you use.

Verifying the first point is difficult, as not many clarify where the data they used to train their models came from. However, there are ways to verify it:

• Check if the company offers compensation for infringing intellectual property, as this is the most reliable sign of all. If a company commits by contract to legally defend you, it means they know very well how their models have been trained. Adobe is one of the companies that offers this, precisely.
• Some companies voluntarily publish a kind of “summary” of the data used in their models. In addition, the EU AI Regulation requires model providers to maintain technical documentation on training data and to publish “sufficiently detailed” summaries of the content used to train their models, so this information should become increasingly accessible.

Through the website Have I Been Trained, you can check in a more specific way if there is any work that has been used in the training of an AI.

The safest option: Adobe Firefly

If you plan to work with images professionally and charge for it, the most sensible choice is to go for the safest option, Adobe Firefly. What makes it a great choice is its versatility and the security that comes from knowing that you won’t have legal issues with the generated content.

Adobe Firefly also gives you access to several of the best generative models currently available, something to consider if you want to experiment with new ideas and create mockups, for example.

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