- Mar 13, 2024
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The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal initiated legal proceedings against AI firm Midjourney on June 11th, accusing it of copyright infringement, Axios reports.
Disney and Universal's lawsuit claims Midjourney's AI image service operates like a "virtual vending machine," endlessly producing unauthorized versions of copyrighted content.
Filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, this case marks a significant move by major studios against an AI entity. The accusation centers on both direct and secondary copyright violations, alleging that Midjourney's model uses the studios' intellectual property for training and displays AI-generated images of copyrighted characters.
The companies state they attempted to resolve the issue with Midjourney before resorting to legal action, but the company allegedly did not respond seriously. Therefore, despite warnings, Midjourney continued upgrading its service with increasingly infringing images.
“By exploiting our copyrighted works, Midjourney acts as a copyright-free-rider,” the lawsuit claims, arguing that piracy remains piracy, regardless of the technology involved.
Horacio Gutierrez of Disney emphasized the enormous investment and creative effort behind their IP, asserting their right to defend such rights under copyright law. Similarly, Kim Harris of NBCUniversal highlighted the importance of protecting the content creators and the investments in entertainment.
Both studios are seeking maximum statutory damages, details of Midjourney’s earnings from the alleged violations, and injunctive relief. While there have been talks of new AI laws, the Motion Picture Association trusts existing copyright law can address AI-related issues.
The case is ongoing, and further details are forthcoming. What’s your take on this high-profile legal battle? Do you think existing copyright laws are sufficient for managing AI advancements? Share your thoughts with us.
Disney and Universal's lawsuit claims Midjourney's AI image service operates like a "virtual vending machine," endlessly producing unauthorized versions of copyrighted content.
Filed in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, this case marks a significant move by major studios against an AI entity. The accusation centers on both direct and secondary copyright violations, alleging that Midjourney's model uses the studios' intellectual property for training and displays AI-generated images of copyrighted characters.
The companies state they attempted to resolve the issue with Midjourney before resorting to legal action, but the company allegedly did not respond seriously. Therefore, despite warnings, Midjourney continued upgrading its service with increasingly infringing images.
“By exploiting our copyrighted works, Midjourney acts as a copyright-free-rider,” the lawsuit claims, arguing that piracy remains piracy, regardless of the technology involved.
Horacio Gutierrez of Disney emphasized the enormous investment and creative effort behind their IP, asserting their right to defend such rights under copyright law. Similarly, Kim Harris of NBCUniversal highlighted the importance of protecting the content creators and the investments in entertainment.
Both studios are seeking maximum statutory damages, details of Midjourney’s earnings from the alleged violations, and injunctive relief. While there have been talks of new AI laws, the Motion Picture Association trusts existing copyright law can address AI-related issues.
The case is ongoing, and further details are forthcoming. What’s your take on this high-profile legal battle? Do you think existing copyright laws are sufficient for managing AI advancements? Share your thoughts with us.
