Warner Bros. Sues Midjourney Over AI-Generated Superhero Images

Warner Bros. Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Midjourney

Warner Bros. has initiated legal action against the artificial intelligence startup Midjourney, claiming copyright infringement. The core of the dispute centers around the unauthorized creation of images and videos featuring iconic characters.

Allegations of Unauthorized Character Generation

The entertainment giant alleges that Midjourney’s platform enables users to generate depictions of characters like Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny without obtaining the necessary permissions. This, Warner Bros. contends, constitutes a violation of their intellectual property rights.

According to reports initially published by Reuters, Warner Bros. asserts that Midjourney was fully aware of its problematic practices. Previously, the company had implemented restrictions preventing subscribers from creating content derived from copyrighted images.

Shifting Policies and Profit Motives

However, these safeguards were reportedly removed recently. The lawsuit claims that Midjourney deliberately chose to prioritize profit over copyright protection.

The official complaint states that Midjourney “made a calculated and profit-driven decision to offer zero protection for copyright owners” despite being aware of the extensive copyright infringement occurring on its platform.

Seeking Legal Remedies

Warner Bros. is pursuing unspecified financial damages as a result of the alleged infringement. They are also requesting the return of any profits Midjourney has earned through these activities.

Furthermore, the lawsuit seeks a court order to immediately cease any further copyright violations.

Following a Similar Legal Challenge

This legal challenge mirrors a similar case filed in June. Walt Disney and Universal also initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney.

That previous case involved the unauthorized use of characters such as Darth Vader, Bart Simpson, and Shrek. Midjourney’s defense in that instance relies on the “fair use” doctrine of U.S. copyright law, arguing that training generative AI models with these works is permissible.

No Response from Midjourney

As of now, Midjourney has not issued a response to a request for comment from TechCrunch regarding this latest legal development.