Midjourney Sued by Disney and Universal Over Copyright Infringement Claims

Disney and Universal have filed a joint lawsuit against Midjourney, claiming copyright infringement related to its AI image generation platform. Since its open beta launch in 2022, Midjourney’s ability to create images from text prompts has attracted scrutiny for generating copyrighted characters like Shrek and Darth Vader. In a lawsuit filed in California, the studios accuse Midjourney of being a “copyright free-rider,” stating it has integrated their characters into images without compensating the creators. Although Midjourney attempts to filter trademarked prompts, users can circumvent these restrictions by describing characters in detail. NBCUniversal’s executive, Kim Harris, emphasized the need to protect artists’ work and their investments. Both studios allege that Midjourney ignored previous requests to cease creating such images. Disney’s chief legal officer noted the potential of AI but firmly stated that piracy, regardless of the medium, remains infringement. The case underscores ongoing concerns regarding copyright in generative AI technology.

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