Disney and Universal Sue AI tool Midjourney Over Copyrights
Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, a popular AI image generator, accusing the company of extensive copyright infringement. The complaint, submitted Wednesday in California federal court, marks the first major legal action by Hollywood studios against an artificial intelligence firm.
The studios claim Midjourney trained its AI models on their protected content without permission. As a result, the tool can produce realistic images of well-known characters like Shrek, Bart Simpson, Ariel, Wall-E, and the minions. Although Midjourney has not publicly responded to this latest lawsuit, the company previously defended its training methods in a 2023 case. At the time, it argued that each AI-generated image represents only a tiny fragment of the training data, similar to how artists absorb inspiration.
Despite that, Disney and Universal maintain their stance. They argue that generating copies of their work without consent clearly violates copyright law. Their complaint describes Midjourney as a “virtual vending machine” that offers “endless unauthorized copies” of their content. In addition, the studios say they had previously asked Midjourney to block content generation involving their properties, but those requests were allegedly ignored.
Hollywood Defends Its Creative Rights in the Age of AI
The lawsuit underscores growing tension between creative industries and AI developers. While AI tools are often praised for accelerating creativity, many artists, musicians, and writers have expressed concern. They worry these tools are built using their original work without consent and may one day replace them.
Although this isn’t the first copyright lawsuit involving generative AI, it’s the first involving major Hollywood studios. The case also highlights how other AI tools have already implemented copyright protections. For example, some limit outputs related to violence or nudity. Studios argue that Midjourney could do the same to protect intellectual property, yet has chosen not to.
Horacio Gutierrez, Disney’s top legal officer, commented:
“We are bullish on the promise of AI technology and optimistic about how it can be used responsibly as a tool to further human creativity… But piracy is piracy, and the fact that it’s done by an AI company does not make it any less infringing.”
Seeking Accountability and Future Safeguards
Disney and Universal are seeking $150,000 per infringed work, plus an order to stop further violations. If successful, damages could exceed $20 million. They allege that Midjourney, with 21 million subscribers and $300 million in revenue last year, has more than enough capacity to act responsibly but has failed to do so.
The Motion Picture Association also issued a statement of support. Its chairman, Charles Rivkin, emphasized that protecting creative work is essential:
“A balanced approach to AI that both protects intellectual property and embraces responsible, human-centered innovation is critical for maintaining America’s global leadership in creative industries.”
As AI tools continue to reshape how content is made and shared, this lawsuit may help determine how far innovation can go without infringing on the rights of original creators.
