Disney and Universal have initiated a landmark lawsuit against MidJourney, alleging copyright infringement over AI-generated images, particularly through its Image Service. Filed on June 11, 2025, in California, the suit claims that MidJourney’s AI has produced images resembling their copyrighted works, including iconic characters like the Minions. Disney and Universal argue that MidJourney trained its AI using their protected content without consent, violating copyright laws.
MidJourney has responded by denying liability, asserting that its model generates original images through complex statistical relationships, not by storing copyrighted works. The case raises significant questions regarding the definition of copyright infringement in the context of generative AI, particularly how AI functions during training and image generation. This dispute could have far-reaching implications for copyright law, especially for content creators and generative AI providers. The legal landscape remains uncertain, making compliance around intellectual property rights crucial.
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