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EXHIBIT 5.1
OPINION AND CONSENT OF WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
August 14, 2000
Board of Directors
Getty Images, Inc.
701 N. 34th Street, Suite 400
Seattle, WA 98103
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Getty Images, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission of the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, with respect to the registration of 3,000,000 shares of common stock,
par value of $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Shares") to be issued from
time to time pursuant to the Getty Images, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as
amended (the "Plan").
In so acting, we have examined originals or copies (certified or
otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the Registration Statement, the
Plan and such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments,
and such certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of
officers and representatives of the Company, and have made such inquiries of
such officers and representatives, as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a
basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth.
In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. As to all questions of
fact material to these opinions that have not been independently established, we
have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and
representatives of the Company.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications stated
herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and,
when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the corporate laws of the
State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States, and we express no
opinion as to the effect on the matters covered by this letter of the laws of
any other jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the use of this letter as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ WEIL, GOTSHAL & MANGES LLP
