Disney & Universal vs. Midjourney: AI Copyright Clash Heats Up

Hollywood giants Disney and Universal have launched a legal battle against artificial intelligence (AI) firm Midjourney, alleging widespread copyright infringement through its AI image generator.

The lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles federal court, accuses Midjourney of creating a “bottomless pit of plagiarism” by generating images that are near-identical copies of iconic characters like Darth Vader (Star Wars), Elsa (Frozen), and the Minions (Despicable Me).

This legal action underscores the complex relationship between the entertainment industry and AI. Studios are eager to leverage AI’s potential but remain wary of the unauthorized reproduction of their intellectual property.

Midjourney’s AI generates images based on user-provided text prompts. The lawsuit showcases examples of AI-generated images strikingly similar to Disney’s Yoda, Marvel’s Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man.

Disney’s Chief Legal Officer, Horacio Gutierrez, voiced optimism about the responsible use of AI to enhance creativity, stating, “But piracy is piracy, and the fact that it’s done by an AI company does not make it any less infringing.”

The complaint highlights Midjourney’s substantial revenue of $300 million last year and its plans for an upcoming video service, raising concerns about the potential scale of copyright infringement.

According to Syracuse University law professor Shubha Ghosh, many Midjourney-generated images appear to be mere copies of copyrighted characters in new settings, lacking significant creative transformation.

Randy McCarthy, head of the IP Law Group at Hall Estill, points out that the case is not a guaranteed win for Disney and Universal. The court will need to consider Midjourney’s terms of service and fair use arguments.

Midjourney, described as an “independent research lab” with a small team, is led by founder David Holz. Nat Friedman, former CEO of Github, and Philip Rosedale, founder of Second Life, are listed as advisors.

This lawsuit arrives after actors’ and writers’ strikes that demanded protection against AI, though AI is increasingly used in film and television, including voice alteration and de-aging of actors.

Keywords: Disney, Universal, Midjourney, AI, copyright infringement, intellectual property, AI image generator, Hollywood, legal battle, Star Wars, Frozen, Minions, Yoda, Spiderman, piracy, artificial intelligence.