Warner Bros. Sues Midjourney Over AI-Generated Character Copies
▼ Summary
– Warner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney for allegedly generating and distributing unauthorized images and videos of its copyrighted characters like Superman and Bugs Bunny.
– The lawsuit claims Midjourney’s AI tools produce infringing content even when prompts are generic, such as generating superhero images from a “classic comic book superhero battle” prompt.
– Warner Bros. Discovery accuses Midjourney of willfully exploiting its intellectual property to attract subscribers and profit from unauthorized derivatives.
– Midjourney is also facing a similar copyright lawsuit from Disney and Universal, which describe its AI generator as producing endless unauthorized copies.
– The lawsuit seeks damages and a court order to block Midjourney from copying or distributing Warner Bros. Discovery’s intellectual property without copyright protection measures.
Warner Bros. Discovery has initiated legal action against Midjourney, accusing the artificial intelligence firm of systematically reproducing and distributing unauthorized copies of its copyrighted characters. The entertainment giant contends that Midjourney’s AI tools have generated countless images and videos featuring iconic figures such as Superman, Bugs Bunny, and Scooby-Doo without permission, effectively treating Warner’s intellectual property as its own.
According to the complaint, Midjourney’s platform produces infringing content even when user prompts do not explicitly name specific characters. For example, a request for a “classic comic book superhero battle” reportedly resulted in AI-generated depictions of Superman, Batman, and The Flash. The lawsuit includes multiple examples where prompts led to recognizable representations of Warner-owned properties like Wonder Woman, Tweety Bird, and the Powerpuff Girls, as well as characters from other studios such as Rick and Morty.
Warner Bros. Discovery asserts that Midjourney is fully aware of the scale of the infringement but has taken no meaningful steps to prevent it. The filing describes the company’s actions as “willful” and accuses it of leveraging popular copyrighted works to attract and retain subscribers. “Midjourney is purposefully exploiting Warner Bros. Discovery’s valuable intellectual property,” the lawsuit states, characterizing the AI service as a tool that facilitates widespread piracy.
This case is not an isolated incident. Midjourney is already facing similar litigation from Disney and Universal, which have likened its AI generator to a “virtual vending machine” for unauthorized content. Warner is seeking monetary damages and a court order to prevent Midjourney from using, displaying, or distributing its IP. The company also wants the AI firm to implement robust copyright protection measures before continuing operations.
Midjourney has not yet issued a public response to the allegations. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent for how AI companies handle copyrighted material and may influence future regulation in the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law.
(Source: The Verge)
