Disney & NBCUniversal Sue Midjourney: AI Copyright Case
- Disney and NBCUniversal (NBCU) have launched a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney, a prominent AI image generator.
- The complaint describes Midjourney as a "quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism." The studios assert that Midjourney has ignored demands to cease infringing on their...
- Midjourney is accused of using copyrighted material without permission.
Disney and NBCUniversal are taking legal action, suing Midjourney over AI image copyright infringement. The primarykeyword lawsuit, filed in California, targets the AI image generator for allegedly using copyrighted material. News Directory 3 reports that the suit claims Midjourney’s AI system illegally replicates intellectual property from franchises like “Star Wars” and “The Simpsons.” Executives at the studios have voiced strong stances on protecting their creative assets, calling out the practice as “theft.” They emphasize the importance of copyright protections for secondarykeyword innovation and investment in their respective works. What will be the outcome of this clash? discover what’s next in this evolving legal landscape.
Disney, NBCU Sue Midjourney Over AI Image Copyright Infringement
Updated June 12, 2025
Disney and NBCUniversal (NBCU) have launched a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney, a prominent AI image generator. The legal action, filed in U.S. district court in Los Angeles, alleges that Midjourney’s AI image generation system illegally uses and distributes intellectual property. The studios claim multiple instances of fraudulent work involving their properties.
The lawsuit cites examples of alleged fraudulent work. (Photo provided in lawsuit by Disney and NBCU)
The complaint describes Midjourney as a “quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism.” The studios assert that Midjourney has ignored demands to cease infringing on their intellectual property, which includes iconic works such as “The Simpsons,” “Star Wars,” “Despicable Me,” and “Minions.”
Midjourney is accused of using copyrighted material without permission. (Lionel Bonaventure via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Horacio Gutierrez, chief legal and compliance officer of The walt Disney Company, stated that Disney’s intellectual properties were built over decades through financial investment, creativity, and innovation, all made possible by copyright laws. Kim Harris, executive vice president and general counsel of NBCUniversal, echoed this sentiment, asserting that “theft is theft irrespective of the technology used.”