The two largest photo stocks in the world are planning a merger, but antitrust regulators may prevent it

Getty Images and Shutterstock are in merger talks amid growing demand for visual content and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry. This merger could create a company worth more than $2 billion, but the deal is already raising questions among antitrust authorities. Shares of Getty Images rose 32% on the news, their biggest gain since 2023.

Image Source: Burst/Unsplash

According to Bloomberg, the largest providers of licensed visual content, Getty Images and Shutterstock, are discussing a possible merger. Getty Images is actively looking for options to merge with a competitor, but it is noted that the company may refuse the deal. Representatives for Getty Images declined to comment, while representatives for Shutterstock did not respond to requests from reporters.

Experts emphasize that a potential merger of two major players in the market may attract close attention from antimonopoly authorities. While the companies expect more favorable terms for the deal under the new Donald Trump administration, experts say a merger of this size will inevitably face scrutiny. Trump-appointed Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission officials Gail Slater and Andrew Ferguson are not expected to be soft on such issues.

Getty Images’ interest in the merger stems from growing demand for visual content as consumers spend more time online. At the same time, the development of artificial intelligence and the widespread adoption of high-quality smartphone cameras are changing the market landscape, reducing the value of stock photography. Founded in 1995, Getty Images has a vast library of photographs, videos, illustrations and music used in news, advertising and entertainment. In turn, Shutterstock, which went public in 2012, provides a platform that allows creators to upload their content and receive royalties for downloads. Over the past year, however, shares of Getty Images are down 56% and Shutterstock are down 37%, according to Bloomberg data. It is possible that the merger will lead to positive adjustments to these figures.

Getty Images shares closed up 13% on Friday at $2.39, giving the company a market cap of $983 million. Shutterstock shares also rose 7.9% to $31.47, giving the company a $1.1 billion market cap.