Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney Over Alleged AI Copyright Infringement
Warner Bros. Discovery has sued AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement, accusing it of enabling users to create images of iconic characters without permission. This follows similar lawsuits from Disney and Universal.
Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
Warner Bros. Discovery has initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI image and video company Midjourney. This marks the third major entertainment company to take legal action against Midjourney, following similar suits filed by Disney and Universal earlier this year.
The lawsuit accuses Midjourney of violating copyright protections by enabling users to generate images featuring iconic characters such as Batman, Scooby Doo, and Bugs Bunny. Warner Bros. Discovery’s complaint states, "Midjourney thinks it is above the law." It further claims that the company has made a deliberate, profit-driven choice to provide no safeguards for copyright owners despite being fully aware of the extensive copyright infringement occurring on its platform.
Details of the Legal Claims
Midjourney is a popular AI image generator that creates visuals and video clips from simple text prompts. The lawsuit targets Warner Bros. Entertainment and its subsidiaries, including DC Comics, Cartoon Network, and Hanna-Barbera Productions.
An important point in the complaint is Midjourney’s recent decision to discontinue its video generation model shortly after launch. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, this move indicates Midjourney’s acknowledgment of copyright infringement issues. The lawsuit outlines that restrictions were initially placed on animating scenes with specific characters but were later lifted. The entertainment company also notes Midjourney’s update to its terms of service, which now prohibits redteaming—a safety testing process used in tech development—arguing this change further demonstrates awareness of potential wrongdoing.
Context and Industry Response
This lawsuit reflects ongoing tensions around copyright in AI-generated content. Midjourney has faced similar allegations before; in June, Disney and Universal labeled the AI program a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" and a case of "textbook copyright infringement." Warner Bros. Discovery is represented by the same law firm handling those cases.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery told media outlets, "The heart of what we do is develop stories and characters to entertain our audiences, bringing to life the vision and passion of our creative partners. Midjourney is blatantly and purposefully infringing copyrighted works, and we filed this suit to protect our content, our partners, and our investments." Similar statements have been released by Disney and NBCUniversal representatives. Midjourney has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Legal Challenges in AI and Copyright
Copyright infringement claims involving AI tools remain highly contentious. Key legal questions include whether copyrighted works were used without permission to train AI models, and whether AI-generated content constitutes infringement.
Recent court rulings have been mixed. For example, AI companies Anthropic and Meta won cases where courts ruled that training AI models on authors’ books qualified as fair use. However, many uncertainties remain, and other cases involving publishers, creators, and AI firms are still pending.
Notably, CNET’s parent company, Ziff Davis, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April, alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted material in training its AI systems.
What This Means for Midjourney Users
This lawsuit is an initial step in what could be a prolonged legal process. For now, Midjourney users should not expect any interruptions to the service as the case progresses.
For legal professionals interested in AI and copyright issues, this case highlights the need to monitor evolving litigation and regulatory developments closely.
