Disney and Universal file copyright infringement lawsuits against AI image generator Midjourney for suspected unauthorized use of their intellectual property.
In a groundbreaking move, Walt Disney Co. and NBCUniversal have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney, an AI image generator, for allegedly training its AI on copyrighted works owned by the studios and producing images that closely resemble their protected characters and creative content without authorization [3][4][5].
The complaint, filed in June 2025 in federal court in Los Angeles, seeks undisclosed amounts in damages and court-ordered restrictions on Midjourney's generation tools. NBC Universal's legal chief added that the studios are obligated to protect the creative labor they have invested in [6].
As of the article, Midjourney has not publicly responded to the lawsuit's claims [1]. However, the company has previously invoked the legal doctrine of fair use, arguing that AI training on copyrighted works is protected [2]. Midjourney contends that the studios cannot seek to profit from AI training while simultaneously suing Midjourney for similar activities, describing this as trying to “have it both ways” [1].
The lawsuit is the first time major Hollywood studios have waded into the conflict between legacy media and generative AI firms. It marks a significant step in the ongoing debate about the boundaries of AI's use of copyrighted material [3].
Midjourney generates its revenue from subscription plans at monthly fees that go up to $120 [7]. The company reported $300 million in revenue last year, six times more than what it gained in 2022 [8].
The lawsuit is part of a wider trend of intellectual property litigation against AI companies across various sectors, targeting unauthorized use of copyrighted material in AI training and outputs [3]. Other image generation platforms like Open AI and StabilityAI have been targeted in lawsuits by major media brands, including the New York Times and Getty Images.
Disney's general counsel stated that AI companies are not exempt from legal standards protecting intellectual property [9]. The complaint accuses Midjourney Inc. of misappropriating copyrighted visuals from popular fictionalized characters from major franchises like the "Star Wars" movies and Marvel comic books [10].
Midjourney claims it is independently funded and does not receive backing from outside investors [11]. The company also claims it has amassed around 21 million users in three years [12].
The studios claim that Midjourney's practice of illegally culling images copyrighted under Disney and Universal-owned brands helped the company become profitable in a short period of time [13]. Disney's legal team described Midjourney's methods as "bootlegging" [14].
The situation remains active and evolving, with Midjourney’s legal response filed and awaited court decisions expected to shape AI copyright law precedents. The case is likely to set a significant precedent in the rapidly evolving world of AI and copyright law.
In this evolving situation, Disney and NBCUniversal's legal teams are not only targeting Midjourney for copyright infringement in the Hollywood sector, but also other image generation platforms like Open AI and StabilityAI in the wider tech business industry, as they allegedly use copyrighted material for AI training without proper authorization. Despite Midjourney's retort of fair use and claims of independence, the studios argue that the company's profits were illegally amassed through the misappropriation of visuals copyrighted under Disney and Universal-owned brands in the entertainment and art realm.
