Disney and Universal Studios Sue Midjourney for Copyright Infringement

Disney and NBCUniversal have jointly filed a lawsuit against AI company Midjourney, alleging copyright infringement involving numerous copyrighted characters from their franchises, including Star Wars and Shrek. The 110-page complaint, submitted in a Los Angeles federal court, accuses Midjourney of unlawfully utilizing countless copyrighted works during its model training, resulting in the distribution of numerous unauthorized AI-generated images. The lawsuit terms Midjourney as a “copyright free-rider” engaged in plagiarism. This legal action marks the first significant step by major Hollywood studios in the growing wave of AI copyright infringement cases, which has already seen similar suit filings against companies like OpenAI and Meta. Disney’s general counsel expressed optimism for responsible AI use but emphasized that infringement is still piracy, while NBCUniversal’s counsel highlighted the need to protect the creative efforts of artists and the substantial investments made in content.

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