Look, I totally understand where WordPress.org is coming from with AI images. They’re trying to protect users from copyright claims. That’s literally the whole point of image policies in the theme directory, and it’s a good goal.

But here’s something really interesting: AI-generated images actually provide better copyright protection than traditional stock photos.

Not “almost as good.” Not “probably fine.” Better.

And the reason is elegantly simple: you can’t infringe a copyright that doesn’t exist.

What Actually Happened (The Short Version)

Back in 2018-2019, WordPress.org went through a challenging period with image licensing. Popular “free” stock photo sites like Pixabay and Pexels changed their licenses from truly open (CC0) to proprietary licenses with restrictions. Suddenly, images that were perfectly fine yesterday violated GPL requirements today.

WordPress had to ban these sources and establish stricter image licensing rules. Hundreds of themes were affected. Theme developers had to learn complex licensing requirements and document everything meticulously.

It was a difficult situation. And it happened because those sites could change their licensing terms whenever they wanted, leaving developers (and ultimately users) exposed to risk.

That’s the challenge WordPress has been working to solve: protecting users from copyright claims on images.

And here’s the exciting part: AI images solve that problem completely.

Let me explain why.

The Legal Thing (It’s Actually Good News)

Here’s what happened: The U.S. Copyright Office looked at AI-generated images and said “Nope, can’t copyright these.” They said it in March 2023, then doubled down with a 200-page report in January 2025. Federal courts agreed. This isn’t some gray area—it’s well-established law.

And this creates something really valuable: if there’s no copyright, there’s no copyright infringement.

Think about what you’re dealing with when you use stock photos:

• Did I license this correctly?
• What are the usage terms again?
• Do I need a model release?
• Is there some hidden rights holder I don’t know about?
• When does this license expire?
• Am I allowed to modify this?

With AI images? None of that exists. There’s no copyright owner to sue you. No licensing terms to accidentally violate. No expiration date to worry about.

All those legal concerns just… disappear.

That’s not me being optimistic. That’s just how copyright law works. No copyright = no infringement. Simple as that.

“But Is the Quality Good?”

Yeah, it’s really good now.

I know AI images had some growing pains in 2022—weird hands, wonky faces, that whole thing. But that was three years ago. The technology has improved dramatically.

Modern AI generates beautiful 4K+ images. MIT showed 30x speed improvements while maintaining professional quality. What used to take hours now takes seconds. What used to cost hundreds of dollars now costs pennies (or nothing).

And for what we actually need in themes—backgrounds, hero images, abstract designs, UI elements—AI works wonderfully. Plus you get something you’ve never had with stock photos: truly unique imagery. Your theme won’t have the same photo that’s on a thousand other websites.

But honestly? Even if the quality was just “pretty good,” it wouldn’t change the core benefit. Because the legal protection is perfect.

What This Means for Theme Developers

Imagine if you could:

• Pay nothing for images. Zero licensing fees, zero per-image costs, zero budget meetings about photography.
• Get images instantly. No more spending your afternoon scrolling through stock photo sites looking for “the one.”
• Have unique visuals. Every theme you build has imagery no one else has. Your work actually looks distinctive.
• Generate variations on demand. Need the same image in different colors? Different compositions? Done in 30 seconds.
• Never track licenses. No renewal dates, no usage restrictions, no “wait, am I allowed to use this for commercial purposes?” moments.

This isn’t a small improvement. This is a fundamentally different way to work.

And here’s an interesting observation—WordPress.org already allows plugins that generate AI images. AI Engine, Kadence AI, they’re all in the plugin directory right now. So WordPress is comfortable with developers creating these images… but hesitant about using them in themes?

There’s an opportunity here to align the policies.

The Fix Is Actually Simple

WordPress just needs three straightforward rules:

1. Be transparent. Document which images are AI-generated and what tools you used. Just basic disclosure.

2. Use common sense. Don’t try to generate Mickey Mouse or LeBron James or the Nike swoosh. Stay away from obviously problematic stuff.

3. Do a quick review. Make sure your images actually make sense for the theme and don’t obviously copy something else. Same quality control you’d do anyway.

That’s it. Three simple guidelines.

And honestly? This is easier than what developers deal with now. Compare these three rules to traditional stock photos: tracking licenses, managing renewals, documenting usage rights, verifying model releases, checking attribution requirements…

AI guidelines are actually simpler and clearer.

Why This Actually Matters

Here’s what WordPress could gain by embracing AI images:

Better protection for users. Not just “acceptable” protection—actually superior to traditional licensing. Zero copyright risk beats “managed” copyright risk every single time.

Happier developers. Lower costs, faster workflows, unique visuals, more creative freedom. This is what modern development looks like.

A stronger ecosystem. When you lower the barriers to entry, you get more creators, more innovation, more diverse themes. AI democratizes professional-quality design.

Look, even the big stock photo companies figured this out. Shutterstock started allowing AI images. Adobe allows them. Getty Images—Getty!—now offers their own AI generator with a $50,000 indemnification. They realized AI managed properly is actually safer than trying to ban it.

WordPress has a real opportunity here. The legal framework is established (no copyright on AI outputs). The technology works great. The benefits are substantial.

Right now, WordPress is focused on a different question than it needs to be. Instead of “Are AI images risky?” the question should be “How do we give developers access to safer image options?”

I genuinely believe WordPress.org wants to protect users. That’s the goal we all share. And AI images do that better than traditional licensing ever could.

The exciting thing is that we’d be embracing AI images because we care about copyright protection, not despite it.