TLDR: The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal have jointly filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit against AI image generation platform Midjourney. The entertainment powerhouses allege that Midjourney’s service, which boasts millions of users and substantial revenue, has systematically reproduced and distributed images of their iconic copyrighted characters without authorization, despite prior attempts by the studios to implement protective measures. This high-stakes legal battle is poised to set a significant precedent for intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving landscape of generative artificial intelligence.
Los Angeles, CA – In a move poised to redefine the boundaries of intellectual property in the age of artificial intelligence, The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal have initiated a landmark federal lawsuit against Midjourney, a prominent generative AI image creation platform. Filed on June 11, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the complaint accuses Midjourney of widespread copyright infringement, labeling its service a ‘bottomless pit of plagiarism.’
The lawsuit centers on allegations that Midjourney’s AI models were trained using vast amounts of copyrighted material, leading to the unauthorized generation and display of ‘hundreds, if not thousands, of images’ that directly infringe upon the studios’ iconic characters. Specific examples cited in the complaint include beloved figures such as Darth Vader, Elsa from ‘Frozen,’ Shrek, the Minions from ‘Despicable Me,’ Yoda, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Wolverine, Olaf, characters from ‘The Simpsons,’ and Buzz Lightyear.
According to the plaintiffs, Midjourney has not only facilitated this infringement but has also directly profited from it. The studios highlight Midjourney’s significant financial success, reporting revenues exceeding $200 million in 2023 and approximately $300 million in 2024, primarily from its paid subscriptions. The platform reportedly serves over 16 million users as of June 2025, or 21 million users as of September 2024, who utilize text prompts to create AI illustrations.
Disney and NBCUniversal assert that they had previously engaged with Midjourney to address these concerns, proposing ‘practical guardrails’ such as prompt filtering and output screening. While Midjourney reportedly employs similar tools for content related to nudity and violence, the studios claim the company ‘declined to implement those tools for the use of their IP to prevent infringement,’ and continued to release ‘new versions of its Image Service’ with ‘even higher-quality infringing images.’ The lawsuit alleges both direct infringement, through the reproduction and public display of copyrighted content, and secondary infringement, by inducing users to generate and distribute infringing material.
Horacio Gutierrez, Disney’s Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, emphasized the company’s stance, stating, ‘We are bullish on the promise of AI technology and optimistic about how it can be used responsibly as a tool to further human creativity, but piracy is piracy, and the fact that it’s done by an AI company does not make it any less infringing.’ Similarly, NBCUniversal Executive Vice President and General Counsel Kim Harris affirmed the lawsuit’s purpose: ‘to protect the hard work of all the artists whose work entertains and inspires us and the significant investment we make in our content.’
The studios are seeking unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief, which would prevent Midjourney from continuing to distribute and generate images with their characters and compel the company to implement technological measures to prevent future infringement. The Motion Picture Association has voiced its support for the lawsuit, with Chairman Charles Rivkin advocating for ‘a balanced approach to AI that both protects intellectual property and embraces responsible, human-centred innovation.’
Legal experts acknowledge the complexity of the case. Randy McCarthy, an expert on AI and copyright law, noted, ‘No litigation is ever a slam dunk, and that is true for Disney and Universal in this case. There are several issues such as terms of service provisions by Midjourney, and basic fair use analysis, that will need to be sorted out by the court before we can determine the likely outcome.’
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This lawsuit is part of a broader wave of legal challenges brought by copyright owners across various industries against tech companies for the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials in AI training. Midjourney itself is already facing a class-action suit from artists, including Kelly McKernan, who allege their work was used without consent. The outcome of this case is anticipated to have profound implications, potentially setting a crucial legal precedent for AI compliance and intellectual property protection, and shaping the future of creative ownership standards in the digital age.
