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Disney and Universal Sue AI Company Midjourney for Alleged Copyright Infringement
The magic—and mischief—of artificial intelligence is headed for a Hollywood showdown.
In a groundbreaking legal move that could shape the future of creativity and copyright in the AI age, Disney and Universal have jointly filed a lawsuit against San Francisco-based Midjourney, the AI image-generation company best known for transforming text prompts into eerily realistic artwork. Filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the lawsuit accuses Midjourney of producing “endless unauthorized copies” of beloved intellectual property, including iconic characters like Star Wars’ Darth Vader and Illumination’s Minions.
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In their filing, the studios didn’t mince words: “Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism.” They claim that the AI platform, by training on vast troves of copyrighted materials scraped from the internet, has enabled users to generate derivative works that closely mimic original studio creations—without permission, compensation, or oversight.
Midjourney has yet to respond to the complaint, but past remarks from CEO David Holz suggest a philosophical defense. In a 2022 interview, Holz likened his platform to a search engine and argued that just as humans are allowed to learn from and be inspired by existing art, AI should enjoy similar liberties under “fair use.” However, major entertainment powerhouses seem unconvinced—and determined to push back.
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This case marks the first time titans like Disney and Universal have stepped into the legal fray against AI-generated content, signaling rising tensions between traditional media companies and tech innovators. The lawsuit joins a growing pile of cases aimed at redefining copyright in the digital age, alongside ongoing suits involving Getty Images, Reddit, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
While the legal outcomes remain uncertain, one thing is clear: the entertainment industry is no longer sitting on the sidelines. The battle between Hollywood and AI is just beginning—and the force behind it may be stronger than ever.
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