Warner Bros. is suing AI startup Midjourney for copyright infringement, alleging that the company allows users to generate images and videos of characters like Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny without permission.
As first reported by Reuters[1], Warner Bros. says that Midjourney knowingly engaged in wrongful conduct, noting that the company previously restricted subscribers from generating content based on infringing images but recently lifted those protections.
“Midjourney has made a calculated and profit-driven decision to offer zero protection for copyright owners even though Midjourney knows about the breathtaking scope of its piracy and copyright infringement,” the complaint reads.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, the return of any profits earned from the alleged infringement, and a halt to further violations.
Warner Bros.’ lawsuit follows a similar one filed in June by Walt Disney and Universal against Midjourney[2] for copyright infringement involving characters such as Darth Vader, Bart Simpson, Shrek, and others. In this case, Midjourney has argued that using those works to train generative AI models is legal under the fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law.
Midjourney did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
References
- ^ Reuters (www.reuters.com)
- ^ Walt Disney and Universal against Midjourney (techcrunch.com)