AI startup Midjourney is engaged in a legal dispute with Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. over alleged copyright infringement related to its AI-generated images of iconic characters. Disney and Universal initiated the lawsuit against Midjourney last year, asserting that the company’s models generate images of characters they own, such as Bart Simpson and Darth Vader. Warner Bros. later joined the legal action against Midjourney.
Midjourney contends that training its AI models on copyrighted character images falls under fair use. The current matter involves the production of documentation by the studios during the discovery process. A judge has ruled that the studios must provide information connected to their generative AI usage, but only if it pertains to consumer-facing videos and images.
In its latest court filing, Midjourney aims to challenge this limitation, claiming it permits studios to selectively produce documents that bolster their claims while withholding others that could aid Midjourney’s defense. The company argues that the withheld documents may reveal whether the studios are internally utilizing unlicensed copyrighted content to develop their own image-generating AI models.
Midjourney has stated that evidence of the studios using AI for storyboarding or content ideation would indicate a common industry practice of employing unlicensed materials. Additionally, the startup is requesting that the studios disclose all prompts they used in its AI, along with all outputs generated, not just those associated with allegedly infringing images.
David Singer, the lead attorney for the studios, accused Midjourney of conducting a “fishing expedition” for the documentation. He clarified that the studios do not intend to hinder AI technology or Midjourney’s operations. Instead, they seek to prevent Midjourney from reproducing their movies and TV shows without authorization.
