Disney, Universal Sue AI Firm Midjourney for Copyright Breach
The San Francisco startup Midjourney received a lawsuit from Disney and Universal on Wednesday because they accused the company of using their famous characters without authorization. The studios filed a complaint in Los Angeles which stated that Midjourney's system produced an infinite number of unauthorized images that included Star Wars' Darth Vader and Frozen's Elsa and the Minions.
The company Midjourney failed to respond to multiple requests for statements. Horacio Gutierrez who serves as Disney's top lawyer stated through a statement that "We believe in AI’s promise, but piracy is piracy—even if done by an AI company." Universal's legal chief Kim Harris explained that the lawsuit exists to defend artists while protecting the substantial financial investments dedicated to developing popular characters.
The studios claim that Midjourney refused to stop the creation of infringing works or implement safeguards to prevent such works from being made. The company released new versions of its image generator which continue to use copyrighted material according to the studios' statement.
The dispute between traditional content creators and AI-powered creativity tools represents an emerging conflict in the industry.
Mirian Gerling is an expert journalist specializing in environmental issues, public health, and scientific innovation. Known for her clear and insightful reporting, she focuses on making complex topics accessible while highlighting the human stories behind global challenges.