Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney for Copyright Infringement

Warner Bros. claimed that Midjourney used protected content to train its generative AI, allowing subscribers to create high-quality images of these characters in any scene imaginable. The company viewed this as a piracy of its intellectual property.

The lawsuit also alleges that Midjourney knowingly committed infringement by previously blocking the creation of videos based on infringing images, but then lifted those restrictions in August, calling it an improvement to the service.

The lawsuit seeks to recover damages, disgorge illegal profits and stop further infringement. Walt Disney and Comcast, the owner of Universal Studios, filed similar lawsuits against Midjourney in June, citing illegal use of images of Darth Vader, Bart Simpson, Shrek and the Little Mermaid.

Warner Bros. emphasizes that the lawsuit is aimed at protecting the company's creative investments and partners. As of September 2024, Midjourney has about 21 million users and an annual revenue of approximately $300 million. In previous responses to similar lawsuits, Midjourney stated that copyright law does not provide absolute control over the use of works, and that the use of such materials to train AI models is fair use and promotes the free exchange of ideas.