Disney and Universal Take Legal Action Against Midjourney for Unauthorized Use of Iconic Franchises

Disney and Universal have initiated a lawsuit against Midjourney, an artificial intelligence image creator, citing copyright infringement. This marks the first time major Hollywood players have taken legal action over AI-generated content.

The lawsuit alleges that Midjourney has used and distributed AI-generated images of characters from popular franchises, including Star Wars and The Simpsons, and failed to comply with cease-and-desist requests from the studios. The complaint details numerous instances of AI-generated renditions of beloved characters from films such as Cars, Toy Story, Shrek, The Avengers, and Despicable Me.

Disney and Universal are seeking a jury trial, arguing that Midjourney’s actions could fundamentally disrupt the U.S. copyright framework, which is designed to incentivize creativity. According to the studios, Midjourney represents a “quintessential copyright free-rider” engaged in “calculated and willful” plagiarism.

They contend that despite sending letters to the company urging it to halt further copyright violations, Midjourney continued to roll out new versions of its image-generating software. The lawsuit highlights that Midjourney, which recorded revenues of $300 million last year and has attracted millions of subscribers, prioritizes profit over complying with copyright laws.

The emergence of AI technology has heightened concerns in the media landscape regarding content protection against unauthorized usage. This lawsuit stands as one of the most notable legal conflicts surrounding AI and copyright to date.

Kimberley Harris, executive vice president and general counsel of NBCUniversal, underscored the importance of creativity in their business and the need to protect the contributions of artists. Disney’s Horacio Gutierrez expressed optimism about the potential of AI if used responsibly, while firmly stating that copyright infringement remains a serious issue irrespective of the technology involved.

The lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.