Photographers Rejected Wall Street Journal Contract Terms
More than 650 freelancers refused a new contract citing copyright concerns and AI training protections.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Photography
Live Poll
Should freelance creators retain copyright ownership of the work they produce for large media companies?
In November 2025, over 650 freelance photographers formed a group called Your Visual Colleagues to reject a new work-for-hire contract from The Wall Street Journal. The photographers oppose terms that strip them of copyright ownership and allow the publication to resell their images.
Why it matters
The contract dispute centers on the protection of creative work in an era where outlets increasingly license content for artificial intelligence training. Photographers fear that lacking specific protections, their images will be utilized to train AI models without compensation or consent.
The dispute involves 650 photographers who refused the contract, including Cassidy Araiza, who reported losing approximately 50% of his 2025 earnings from the publication in 2026.
The players
Your Visual Colleagues
This is an organized group of over 650 freelance photographers who are protesting changes to contract terms regarding copyright and AI usage.
News Corp
This is the parent company of The Wall Street Journal and has entered into multiple agreements to license news content for the purpose of training artificial intelligence systems.
Cassidy Araiza
A freelance photographer based in Tucson, Arizona, who lost approximately half of his annual earnings from the publication following the contract dispute.
The details
The controversial contract shifts the business model from one where photographers retained copyright to a work-for-hire arrangement. This change allows The Wall Street Journal to resell images, while photographers lack protections against the inclusion of their work on artificial intelligence platforms.
Timeline
2024: News Corp opened content to OpenAI for training.
November 2025: The Wall Street Journal issued the contract to freelancers.
2026: News Corp finalized an AI training agreement with Meta.
Culture Shift
This protest highlights a growing societal pushback against the commercialization of creative assets for machine learning. It signals a shift away from traditional licensing models toward a new era where creators demand specific legal safeguards against generative AI exploitation.
The refusal affects how freelance contributors manage their business operations and revenue streams in a changing media market. Photographers face immediate financial pressure to accept new terms or seek alternative income sources that protect their copyright.
The takeaway
Freelancers are increasingly scrutinizing long-term contracts to ensure they maintain control over their intellectual property in the digital age. Photographers and other content creators are urged to consult legal counsel regarding AI usage clauses before signing any new work-for-hire agreements.
Further reading
For more on industry standards, explore the Photography section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Arizona Public Media.
Live Poll
Should freelance creators retain copyright ownership of the work they produce for large media companies?
