Entertainment
Disney and Universal Take AI Firm Midjourney to Court
- Disney and Universal have brought an injunction against Midjourney for alleged copyright infringement against a suite of characters with which the company trained its image generator, so it’s basically a big IP fight of intellectual property in an AI age.
- The creation of this case could transform AI tools’ development and regulation through the establishment of supposedly global copyright laws and rights about creativity.
Imagine your favourite movie characters—Darth Vader wielding his lightsabre or Elsa conjuring ice—popping up in artwork you didn’t create or approve. That’s the heart of a blockbuster legal fight unfolding in Los Angeles, where and Universal are suing AI company Midjourney for copyright infringement. Filed on June 11, 2025, this case is stirring up big questions about AI, creativity, and who owns what in the digital age. Let’s dive into the details, explore why it matters, and peek at what’s at stake for the future.
The Spark of the Lawsuit
Midjourney, a San Francisco-based AI outfit founded by David Holz, has made waves with its image generator. You type a description, and—poof!—it churns out stunning visuals. In 2023, the company, with just a handful of staff, reportedly raked in £221 million ($300 million), according to BBC News. But Disney and Universal aren’t impressed. They claim Midjourney’s AI was trained on their copyrighted material without permission, spitting out images of iconic characters like Minions, Yoda, Bart Simpson, Iron Man, Buzz Lightyear, Toothless, Shrek, and Po from Kung Fu Panda.
The studios aren’t mincing words. Their lawsuit, lodged in a Los Angeles federal court, calls Midjourney’s output a “bottomless pit of plagiarism�. They argue these images aren’t creative twists but straight-up copies, violating their intellectual property. Worse, they say Midjourney ignored their pleas to stop, rolling out newer AI versions that churn out even sharper infringing images.
What Disney and Universal Are Saying
Disney’s top lawyer, Horacio Gutierrez, laid it out clearly: “We are optimistic about the potential of AI to enhance creativity, but piracy is piracy, regardless of whether it’s committed by a person or a machine.� Universal’s Kim Harris doubled down, stating, “We are taking this action to safeguard our creative assets and ensure that our artists� work is respected.� The Motion Picture Association, a heavyweight in the industry, backed them up. Its CEO, Charles Rivkin, said, “Strong copyright protection is the backbone of our industry.�
These aren’t just words—they reflect a deep worry in Hollywood. AI’s a double-edged sword: it’s used to de-age actors in films like The Brutalist or tweak voices in Emilia Perez, but when it’s trained on copyrighted work without consent, it’s a problem. This lawsuit isn’t the first of its kind. Back in 2023, visual artists sued Midjourney and Stability AI for similar reasons, and that case is still grinding through the courts, as noted by Reuters.
Why This Case Matters
This isn’t just about cartoon characters—it’s a clash that could reshape how AI works. If Disney and Universal win, AI companies might face tougher rules, needing to prove their training data is clean. That could mean higher costs and slower innovation, but it’d protect creators� rights. On the flip side, if Midjourney pulls off a victory, it could lean on “fair use� or “transformative use� arguments, giving AI firms more freedom to scrape the internet for data. Legal experts are split. Shubha Ghosh from Syracuse University told BBC News that Midjourney’s images look like copies, not creative spins. But Randy McCarthy from Hall Estill warned it’s no “slam dunk�, with fair use debates muddying the waters.
Midjourney’s staying quiet so far. Reports from CNBC say they acknowledged Disney’s complaints but didn’t act, and they ghosted Universal’s requests. That silence has only fuelled the studios� resolve to fight.
A Closer Look at Midjourney’s Tech
Midjourney’s tech is fascinating but controversial. Its AI pulls from a massive database—think a “big scrape of the Internet�, as CEO David Holz admitted in a 2022 Forbes interview. With 100 million images in play, tracking their origins is nearly impossible. That’s great for creating art fast, but it’s a legal minefield when those images echo copyrighted characters. The lawsuit claims Midjourney’s tool doesn’t just mimic—it replicates, down to the details of Yoda’s lightsabre or Bart’s skateboard.
The studios want a court order to stop Midjourney’s operations unless it can prevent these infringements, plus damages (the amount is not specified yet). This isn’t a new fight for Midjourney. That 2023 artists� lawsuit, still ongoing, found “plausible� claims of copying, per Reuters. The pattern’s clear: Midjourney’s tech is powerful, but it’s stepping on toes.
The Bigger Picture: AI and Creativity
AI’s transforming entertainment. It’s used to make actors look younger or swap voices, but the dark side is when it’s fed copyrighted material without a nod to the owners. Hollywood’s not anti-AI—they just want control over their creations. This case could set a precedent, forcing AI firms to rethink how they build their tools. It’s not just about Disney or Universal; it’s about every artist, writer, or studio whose work might end up in an AI’s database.
The global angle matters too. Disney and Universal are giants with worldwide reach, and Midjourney’s tech is used globally. A ruling here could ripple across borders, shaping how AI and copyright coexist everywhere. As TIME pointed out, the outcome might balance innovation with protecting creative work or tip the scales one way.
What’s Next?
As of June 12, 2025, the lawsuit’s just getting started. Midjourney hasn’t responded publicly, and the court hasn’t ruled yet. The studios are pushing for a quick injunction, which could pause Midjourney’s operations until the case is settled. Legal battles like this can drag on, but the stakes are high enough to keep everyone watching.
This fight’s about more than money—it’s about the future of creativity. Will AI be a partner in art or a pirate of it? Disney and Universal are betting on the former, but only if the rules protect their work. For now, the courtroom’s the stage, and the world’s waiting for the next act.
Final Thoughts
The Disney-Universal vs. Midjourney lawsuit is a wake-up call. AI’s incredible, but it can’t run roughshod over creators� rights. Whether you’re a fan of Elsa’s ice magic or Shrek’s swamp, this case matters because it’s about keeping the spark of human creativity alive in an AI-driven world. Stay tuned—this story’s far from over.
