Getty Images must sell Shutterstock's editorial business to secure UK approval for their $3.7bn merger, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority announced in a provisional decision. The regulator found the deal could result in "substantial lessening of competition" in the UK editorial market, where both agencies supply content to newsrooms globally.

Getty and Shutterstock initially offered to sell Shutterstock's editorial business but later proposed selling only Backgrid and Splash, which primarily focus on paparazzi shots. The Competition and Markets Authority rejected this reduced proposal as insufficient to address competition concerns, leaving both companies at odds with the regulator's provisional finding.

Both companies disagree with the decision, with Getty threatening to rethink UK operations if the deal is blocked. The US Department of Justice already approved the merger in February, highlighting regulatory divergence. Getty maintains the proposed merger does not constitute a substantial lessening of competition in the UK market where customers benefit from wide choice.