Disney, Universal Sue Midjourney AI for Copyright Infringement

Disney and Universal Studios have filed a joint lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney, accusing the company of widespread copyright infringement by using their protected characters without permission. The lawsuit alleges that Midjourney illegally copied and distributed unauthorized images of iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Elsa, the Minions, and Homer Simpson, despite cease-and-desist requests. This marks the first time major Hollywood studios have taken direct legal action against a generative AI company, highlighting growing industry concerns over AI's use of copyrighted intellectual property. The studios describe Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" and seek statutory damages, an accounting of profits, and injunctive relief. Midjourney's CEO has previously likened the service to a search engine, arguing that AI's use of publicly accessible images is akin to human creativity and should be protected under the fair use doctrine, a claim strongly contested by the studios. The legal action reflects broader tensions between traditional media companies and emerging AI technologies over content ownership and copyright enforcement.