November Newsbreak
In this issue:
Volunteer + Member of the Year Award Winners
Learning & Insights
Post IDMLC Summary
Encore Panel presentations on AI, Synthetic Content and Leveraging AI for Image SEO
CEPIC Webinar - free for DMLA members
Advocacy In Focus
Governance & Operations
Upcoming events
Volunteer of The Year
Sarah Lefebvre
We’re proud to announce that Sarah Lefebvre has been named DMLA’s 2025 Volunteer of the Year! We celebrate Sarah for her work with DMLA on marketing and communications, as the committee chair on our Board.
MediaViz AI took the leap and joined DMLA this year, and immediately got involved, with Troy DeBraal and Sarah both asking how they could help. DMLA is a member-run organization, so having active member companies like MediaViz AI is critical to our ability to make a positive impact on the industry.
Sincere thanks to Sarah, Troy, and MediaViz AI!
Member of The Year
pocstock
We are excited to announce that pocstock has been named the DMLA Member company of the year. Co-Founders Steve Jones and DeSean Brown have demonstrated exceptional leadership through their active roles on the DMLA Board and Membership Committee. Their dedication reflects the values of collaboration, inclusion, and innovation that lie at the heart of our community.
Please join us in congratulating pocstock on this well-deserved recognition — we’re proud to celebrate their outstanding contributions to DMLA!
Learning & Insights
Truth, Integrity, AI and the Power of Imagery
- A Recap of DMLA’s 2025 Conference
The Digital Media Licensing Association’s 2025 Conference in Atlanta brought together top innovators, creators, and thought leaders to explore Truth, Integrity, AI, and the Power of Imagery. From Robyn Curnow’s keynote on rebuilding trust in journalism to panels tackling AI implementation, cybersecurity, and evolving legal frameworks, the event reflected an industry that has moved from questioning AI’s role to mastering its integration. Sessions like Generative AI: The Good, Bad, Ugly and How to Keep Image Workflows Safe in the Age of AI offered real-world insights, while In the Trenches celebrated the human stories behind powerful photojournalism. Discussions on marketing, discovery, and 2026 trends revealed a focus on innovation and collaboration, supported by sponsors including Google, Adobe, and ImageRights. Beyond the sessions, attendees connected through dine-arounds, networking mixers, and shared inspiration—solidifying DMLA’s role as a community shaping the ethical and creative future of visual media.
To read the full story, go HERE!
*Registered attendees have received priority access to conference videos. If you have not received your access, please reach out to marketing@dmla.org.
*DMLA members will get access to all conference videos in December.
Encore Presentations!
DMLA presents education on topics that may seem foreign or a long way off. In 2022, we included two panels at the conference on AI, synthetic content and leveraging the technology for image SEO. We thought our community might enjoy encore presentations of these two panels.
Synthetic Content in the Wild. How Can I Get On Board?
Long promised and much misunderstood, licensed synthetic content is finally here. Platforms generating lensless media from algorithms are rapidly pushing photo realistic content into distribution channels and onto surfaces that until recently were the exclusive domain of organically created photography and video. This panel of industry pioneers and industry experts will offer a deep dive into the current state of the art, the power of clean, biometrically released datasets, the technology behind all of this and how this big bang moment will impact our industry and beyond.
Click the title to see Mark Milstein, Microstock Solutions moderate the discussion with Ashish Jaiman, Microsoft - Michael Osterrieder, vAIsual - and Victor Riparbelli, Synthesia.
Leveraging AI for Image SEO
Learn from experts how to leverage AI to generate automaticsearch metadata for your images, including tags and descriptions to improve SEO. Learn from peers in the community how to integrate AI metadata into your DAM and image management processes to dirve more sales and actionable results.
Click the title above to see Tom Smith, GADO Images, lead a discussion with Don Resnick, 20/20 Software - Georgi Kadrev, Imagga - and Brad Folkens, Couldsight.
CEPIC Webinar - Free for DMLA members
Framing the Future : How to protect your imagery and grow your revenue using protecting frames and embeds with SmartFrame & CyberMirage
In this session, Alan Capel (CCO, SmartFrame) and Mike Wei (CEO, CyberMirage) will explore how innovative framing and embedding technologies can help creators and agencies better protect, trace, and monetise their images in the AI era.
When: December 2, 2025
Time: 4am EST
*Registrants will get access to videos following the webinars.
*Details and registration HERE
Advocacy in Focus
NPPA Seeks Member Input on DHS and FPS Interference with News gathering
by Mickey Osterreicher • November 12, 2025
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is exploring potential litigation against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and other federal agencies following reports that journalists and visual journalists have been harassed, detained, injured, or otherwise retaliated against while documenting immigration-related activity.
To read the complete story, go HERE.
DMLA Submits Comments to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on AI and Copyright
The Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA) has submitted formal comments to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in response to its request for information on reducing barriers to AI innovation.
In its filing, DMLA emphasizes that copyright law does not hinder AI development—it enables it. The association argues that strong copyright protections are the foundation of both the creative and AI industries, ensuring that human creators remain incentivized to produce high-quality works that fuel generative AI (GAI) systems.
Key points include:
Copyright as a Cornerstone: Existing U.S. copyright laws—rooted in the Constitution—promote human creativity, economic growth, and U.S. leadership in technology.
Thriving Licensing Market: DMLA notes that a robust free-market licensing system already supports AI development, with numerous partnerships between rightsholders and AI companies.
Opposition to “Opt-Out” Regimes: The association warns that proposals allowing AI developers to use works unless explicitly blocked by creators would undermine creators’ rights and destabilize legitimate licensing markets.
Transparency in AI Training: DMLA advocates for clear disclosure of copyrighted materials used in AI training, ensuring trust, accountability, and compliance.
The submission concludes that any federal policy changes should support existing copyright laws, promote transparency, and reject opt-out or exception frameworks that would weaken U.S. creative and economic competitiveness.
Submitted by:
Joe Naylor, President, Digital Media Licensing Association
October 27, 2025
To read the entire letter, Go HERE.
Getty Images Issues Statement on ruling in
Stability AI UK litigation
November 4, 2025 – New York
Getty Images announced a major victory in its UK litigation against Stability AI, with the Court ruling that Stable Diffusion’s use of Getty’s trademarks in AI-generated images constitutes trademark infringement. Importantly, the Court held that responsibility lies with the model provider, not end users, as developers control the datasets used for training.
The decision also confirmed that Getty’s copyrighted works were used to train Stable Diffusion, and set a precedent that AI models—though intangible—can still be subject to copyright infringement claims. Getty stated it will use these findings to advance its ongoing U.S. case.
The company reiterated concerns over the lack of AI transparency requirements, urging governments to implement stronger rules to help creators protect their rights without resorting to costly litigation.
To read Getty Image’s statement, go HERE
DOJ Asks SCOTUS to Uphold the White House’s
Dismissal of USCO Register Perlmutter:
On October 27, the U.S. Solicitor General filed an application to stay the interlocutory Injunction of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Register Shira Perlmutter’s case against the U.S. Government for wrongful termination. The Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit had reinstated Perlmutter as Register on September 10 and denied the defendants' petition for rehearing en banc on October 1. Perlmutter’s response is due November 10. More about this can be found here and on the SCOTUS docket.
Rep. Ross Raises Concern over USCO Register Dismissal
On October 28, at Semafor’s Navigating Regulatory Waves event, Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC) raised concerns over the Trump Administration’s dismissal of Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter. Ross emphasized the importance of an independent office amid AI-related copyright debates, stating, “It is so important that the head of the U.S. Copyright Office is an independent person, because copyright should know no favoritism.”
Perlmutter Tells SCOTUS Trump is Making
‘An Inexcusable Mess’ of Library of Congress Governance
“The question here is not whether the Register of Copyrights or the Librarian of Congress has any functions that can be characterized as ‘executive’ for constitutional purposes; it is whether Congress decided to organize the Library as an ‘Executive agency’.”
Two weeks after the Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay an interlocutory injunction issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, in September that allowed Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter to return to her post pending her lawsuit against President Donald Trump for allegedly illegally removing her from office, Perlmutter has responded.
In her opposition to the application for a stay, filed on Monday, Perlmutter accused the administration of making “an inexcusable mess of Congress’s plans for the governance of its Library.”
Read the complete story HERE.
Community & Connection
Governance & Operations
DMLA Open Board Seats
DMLA is a volunteer-led organization, and our members play a vital role in shaping our advocacy, educational programming, and industry connections. We are currently seeking nominations for three open Board positions: one At-Large Board Seat, the Finance Chair, and the Nominations & Elections Chair. View current leadership HERE.
At-Large Board Seat
DMLA may have up to four at-large members, and these seats are designed to reflect the breadth and diversity of our community—spanning media production, distribution, licensing, technology, and legal expertise. We encourage candidates who bring new perspectives, and are interesting in participating on the Board.
Finance Chair
The Finance Chair is responsible for guiding DMLA’s financial strategy, overseeing the annual budget, and helping build and maintain a sustainable reserve. This role is central to strengthening the organization’s long-term health and supporting our mission.
Nominations & Elections Chair
The Nominations & Elections Chair oversees DMLA’s biannual leadership elections. This includes managing the nomination process and ensuring a fair and transparent election cycle. The next election will take place in Spring 2026.
If you or someone you know is interested in contributing to DMLA’s leadership, we encourage you to reach out for more information or submit a nomination.
Annual Dues Invoicing
It’s that time of year again—DMLA will be sending out annual dues invoices for 2026 this month. Please watch your email.
2026 will be DMLA’s 75th anniversary. We are working hard to plan a year of celebrations. We are open to any and all suggestions for activities and would love to hear from you. Email admin@dmla.org
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to DMLA’s mission. Your membership makes it possible for us to advocate for the industry, deliver high-quality education, and foster meaningful connections across our community.
Upcoming Events
December 3, 2025 - Festival of DAM 2025 - online event
A celebration of all things Digital Asset ManagementDecember 1-5, 2025 - AWS: ReInvent - Las Vegas, NV
Cloud pioneers gather for the latest AWS innovations, peer-to-peer learning, expert-led discussions, and networking opportunities.February 10 -12, 2025 - Generative AI EXPO - Fort Lauderdale, FLA
Guiding Your Selection of Generative AI ApplicationsMarch 18 - 19, 2026 - DAM LA 2026 - Los Angeles, CA
April 14, 2026 - Creative Marketplace - New York, NY
May 6-8, 2026 - CEPIC - Valencia, Spain
June 22–26, 2026 - Cannes Lions Int’l - Cannes, France
September 16, 2026 - Footage Marketplace Europe - Paris, France
Please send us events you would like us to track! Email marketing@dmla.org