Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney Over Copyright Infringement
Key Points
- Warner Bros. Discovery files a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney.
- The complaint alleges unauthorized creation of images featuring characters like Batman, Scooby Doo and Bugs Bunny.
- Midjourney previously restricted, then reinstated, video generation capabilities involving copyrighted characters.
- The company updated its terms of service to block safety‑testing practices known as red‑teaming.
- The lawsuit follows similar actions taken by Disney and Universal against Midjourney.
- Warner Bros. emphasizes protecting its stories, characters, and creative partners.
- Midjourney has not provided a comment on the allegations.
- The case highlights ongoing legal tensions between AI developers and the entertainment industry.
Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the AI image generator Midjourney, joining Disney and Universal in legal actions against the company. The complaint alleges that Midjourney allows users to create images featuring protected characters such as Batman, Scooby Doo and Bugs Bunny, and that the firm knowingly facilitated piracy despite awareness of the issue. Warner Bros. claims Midjourney removed and later reinstated restrictions on video generation and updated its terms to block safety testing. The case highlights growing tensions between the entertainment industry and AI developers over the use of copyrighted material.
Background
Warner Bros. Discovery has brought a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney, an AI image and video generator that enables users to produce visual content from text prompts. This filing marks the third major entertainment company to sue Midjourney, following similar actions by Disney and Universal.
Allegations
The lawsuit asserts that Midjourney permitted the creation of images featuring protected characters, including Batman, Scooby Doo and Bugs Bunny, thereby violating Warner Bros. Entertainment’s copyright protections. The complaint also references Midjourney’s recent video‑generation model, alleging that the company initially blocked users from animating scenes with copyrighted characters, later lifted those restrictions, and therefore possessed knowledge of wrongdoing. Additionally, the suit claims Midjourney updated its terms of service to prohibit “red‑teaming,” a safety process used by tech firms.
Industry Context
Warner Bros. Discovery’s legal action is represented by the same law firm that filed the suits for Disney and Universal, indicating a coordinated effort within the entertainment sector. A Warner Bros. spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to protecting its stories, characters, and creative partners, describing Midjourney’s conduct as “blatantly and purposefully infringing.” Midjourney has not responded to requests for comment.
The disputes occur amid broader debates about AI training practices, with other cases involving Anthropic and Meta achieving victories on fair‑use grounds. A disclosure notes that Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, has also sued OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement in AI training.
Potential Impact
The lawsuit is described as an initial step, and Midjourney users are not expected to experience service interruptions as a result of the filing. The case underscores the legal uncertainties surrounding AI‑generated content and the entertainment industry’s effort to enforce copyright protections.