• Disney and Universal filed a 110-page lawsuit against Midjourney for copyright infringement.
• The lawsuit alleges Midjourney uses copyrighted characters without permission.
• Both companies label Midjourney as a "quintessential copyright free-rider."
• This action marks the entry of Hollywood studios into the generative AI legal battle.
• Legal experts predict this case could set significant precedents in copyright law regarding AI.

Disney and Universal have initiated a significant legal battle by filing a 110-page lawsuit against the artificial intelligence startup Midjourney, accusing it of copyright infringement. The film studios claim that Midjourney, which offers an AI-powered image generator, has unlawfully utilized countless copyrighted works to train its software, enabling users to create images that “blatantly incorporate and copy” iconic characters such as Darth Vader and the Minions. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court in Los Angeles, marking a proactive stance from major Hollywood entities regarding the protection of their intellectual properties in relation to AI technology, according to The New York Times and India Times.

Both Disney and Universal have framed their legal argument by describing Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism." They contend that the AI company has profited significantly without compensating the original creators. “Piracy is piracy, and the fact that it’s done by an AI company does not make it any less infringing,” stated Horacio Gutierrez, Disney's general counsel. This sentiment is echoed by Kim Harris, general counsel for NBCUniversal, who emphasized the lawsuit aims to protect the artist community and acknowledge their hard work in the entertainment industry, as noted in reports by Reuters and The New York Times.

The lawsuit details specific examples of characters that Midjourney is alleged to have recreated without authorization, including prominent figures from both Disney and Universal franchises. Disney and Universal are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Midjourney from further generating images that infringe upon their copyrights and are also pursuing unspecified damages. This move is indicative of a turning tide in Hollywood where creative professionals have expressed frustration over the lack of action by studios to protect their intellectual property, as highlighted by Meredith Stiehm, president of the Writers Guild of America West, according to India Times, Reuters, and The New York Times.