Disney and Universal are suing AI photo generation company Midjourney, marking a significant legal battle between Hollywood and AI technology. The studios allege that Midjourney trains its AI models on their intellectual property, generating unauthorized images featuring their iconic characters, thus violating copyright law. The complaint describes Midjourney as a “virtual vending machine” that facilitates plagiarism, producing endless copies of copyrighted works, including characters from popular franchises like Star Wars and The Little Mermaid.
Midjourney, which reportedly has 21 million subscribers and generated $300 million in revenue last year, has faced prior lawsuits from visual artists over copyright issues. Disney’s legal team emphasizes that while they support responsible AI innovation, copyright infringement is unacceptable. The studios are seeking $150,000 per infringed work, with potential damages exceeding $20 million. This lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about AI’s impact on creative industries and the need for a balance between technological advancement and intellectual property rights.
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