Warner Bros. Sues Midjourney Over AI-Generated DC Characters
▼ Summary
– Warner Bros. is suing AI startup Midjourney for copyright infringement over unauthorized generation of characters like Superman and Bugs Bunny.
– The lawsuit claims Midjourney knowingly removed protections that previously restricted users from creating infringing content.
– Warner Bros. alleges Midjourney made a profit-driven decision to offer no copyright protection despite awareness of infringement.
– The suit seeks unspecified damages, return of profits from infringement, and an injunction to stop further violations.
– This follows a similar June lawsuit by Disney and Universal, with Midjourney arguing AI training falls under fair use.
Warner Bros. has initiated legal proceedings against the artificial intelligence firm Midjourney, accusing the company of copyright infringement related to its AI-generated depictions of iconic characters such as Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny. According to the entertainment giant, Midjourney permits users to create images and videos featuring these protected intellectual properties without obtaining proper authorization.
The complaint, initially covered by Reuters, asserts that Midjourney acted knowingly and deliberately in its alleged misconduct. Warner Bros. points out that the AI company had previously implemented safeguards to prevent subscribers from producing content based on copyrighted material but later removed those protective measures. This shift, the lawsuit claims, reflects a strategic move aimed at maximizing profits at the expense of copyright holders.
“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 legal filing states.
Warner Bros. is seeking unspecified monetary compensation, the disgorgement of any profits linked to the alleged infringement, and a court order to prevent further unauthorized use of its characters.
This legal action mirrors a case filed in June by Walt Disney and Universal Studios, which also targeted Midjourney over similar claims involving characters like Darth Vader, Bart Simpson, and Shrek. In that earlier dispute, Midjourney defended its practices by invoking the fair use doctrine, arguing that utilizing copyrighted works to train generative AI models falls within legal boundaries.
Midjourney has not issued a public statement regarding the new allegations and did not respond to a recent request for comment from TechCrunch.
(Source: TechCrunch)
