Disney and Universal Sue AI Firm Midjourney Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

The Walt Disney Company and Universal Pictures have filed a landmark lawsuit against AI startup Midjourney, accusing the company of unauthorized use of their copyrighted characters.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleges that Midjourney’s AI image generation tool has produced images featuring iconic characters such as Elsa from Frozen, Darth Vader from Star Wars, and the Minions from Despicable Me without permission.

The studios describe Midjourney as a “quintessential copyright free-rider” and a “bottomless pit of plagiarism.”

Disney and Universal claim that Midjourney’s platform has generated numerous unauthorized images of their characters, which are then distributed and monetized, undermining their intellectual property rights.

Despite prior cease-and-desist requests, the studios allege that Midjourney continued to allow the creation and dissemination of these infringing images.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and an injunction to prevent further unauthorized use of their copyrighted characters.

This legal action underscores the growing tension between the entertainment industry and the rapidly advancing field of generative AI. While AI technologies offer new creative possibilities, they also raise significant concerns regarding the unauthorized use of protected content.

The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how AI companies handle copyrighted material and may influence future legislation and industry practices surrounding AI-generated content.

Midjourney has not yet publicly responded to the lawsuit. The case is being closely watched as it may have far-reaching implications for the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law.