Disney, Universal sue AI company for copying Minions, Avengers and ‘Star Wars’ characters
On Wednesday, the Walt Disney Company and Universal Pictures took legal action against a notable AI-powered image creator, alleging copyright infringement. This move signifies a significant escalation in Hollywood’s efforts to control how artificial intelligence is utilized in specific applications.
The legal action, initiated in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, alleges that the AI company Midjourney produces pictures that overtly mimic and replicate the iconic characters belonging to movie studios. These characters hail from blockbuster franchises such as “Star Wars,” Marvel, and the universes of “Despicable Me” and “Minions.
For the very first time, prominent film studios like Disney and Universal have decided to take their fight against alleged AI-induced copyright infringement to a court of law. Companies such as Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century, and DreamWorks Animation are part of this legal action along with the main studio.
Critics label Midjourney as an “epitome of copyright freeloader, a vast wellspring of plagiarism,” claiming that the firm exploits pictures containing copyrighted characters for their marketing and promotional purposes.
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Disney and Universal assert that Midjourney disregarded their demands to cease using their copyrighted materials. The companies contend that Midjourney has systems in place to prohibit the generation of violent or explicit imagery, and they suggest that similar mechanisms could be employed to prevent the reproduction of recognizable and protected works.
Representatives for Midjourney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The lawsuit, spanning over 110 pages with approximately 30 instances, presents visual evidence. This evidence is generated from Midjourney prompts and then juxtaposes these creations alongside scenes from films produced by Disney and Universal Studios.
The suit showcased digital images of Yoda, Darth Vader, Iron Man, the Hulk, along with characters from “Frozen,” “The Simpsons,” “Shrek” and “Kung Fu Panda,” all of which closely resembled official studio depictions.
As a die-hard Pixar enthusiast, I can’t help but notice the uncanny similarity between these new renditions and the originals. The vibrant color schemes, distinctive animation styles, right down to the logos adorning Lightning McQueen and Buzz Lightyear’s space suit – they all hark back to the classics that captivated me as a child.
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Artists in Hollywood have consistently voiced apprehension regarding the swift advancement of AI technology that generates text, pictures, sounds, and videos. The potential for unauthorized use of such AI was a significant issue during the groundbreaking strike by actors and screenwriters in 2023.
During an interview with The Times in 2022, David Holz, the founder and CEO of Midjourney, expressed that he saw the image service as a means to align the pace of artistic creation with the swiftness of their creative thinking.
He noted that judging something from a distance as frightening is often easy, but once individuals interact with it directly, their perceptions shift significantly. Instead of viewing it as an attempt to supplant them, they discover that it feels more like an additional tool for their thoughts. When used, it becomes more akin to an extension of one’s own mind.
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2025-06-11 21:01