Disney Sues Midjourney for Copyright Infringement (AI Case)
According to a report from Investopedia, Disney has joined forces with its competitor Universal to file a copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney. Midjourney is one of the more well-known generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms that allows users to create images. Disney and Universal allege that the AI is violating their copyrights. Here, our Florida copyright infringement attorney provides an overview of the case and the potential implications.
An Overview of the Copyright Lawsuit: Disney and Universal vs. Midjourney
On June 11th, 2025, Disney and Universal filed a major copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California against Midjourney, one of the leading AI image generators. They allege that Midjourney’s software has become a “bottomless pit of plagiarism.” As argued in the more than 100 page joint complaint, the companies believe that Midjourney’s software has repeatedly produced unauthorized reproductions of iconic characters, including those from Star Wars, The Simpsons, Shrek, and the Minions.
The studios describe the tool as a “virtual vending machine” that spits out infringing content in response to simple prompts. They are arguing willful copyright infringement and seeking a wide range of remedies, including an injunction and financial damages. For its part, Midjourney has declined public comment citing ongoing litigation. The case could have major implications for the future of American copyright law.
Understanding the Potential Future Implications for AI and Copyright Law
The lawsuit filed by Disney and Universal against Midjourney could mark a turning point in how U.S. courts evaluate the legality of AI-generated content and the datasets that train such systems. With powerful media companies now involved, this case is likely to shape future interpretations of fair use, licensing, and the boundaries of transformative work under copyright law. Here are some of the key things to watch for during this and any similar litigation:
- The Bounds of Fair Use: There is one area of broad agreement amongst all parties: More legal clarity is needed on the extent to which AI training is covered by Fair Use. If courts determine that scraping copyrighted images to train AI models violates fair use, it could require all generative AI developers to license training data or use only content that is within the public domain. It is the key copyright law issue that must be resolved.
- Who Bears Exposure for Similar Images: AI image generators produce responses based on user prompts. The case may test whether AI-generated outputs that closely mimic protected characters (such as Darth Vader) are considered direct infringement.
- The Meaning of “Transformative Use” in the Context of AI: Finally, courts may also reevaluate what it means for AI-generated art to be “transformative.” If generating stylized variants of copyrighted characters is not transformative, it will limit creative AI outputs going forward. That could have major implications for copyright law and IP licensing.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation with a Florida Copyright Lawyer
At Perkins Law — Brand Protection, our Florida copyright attorney has the knowledge, skills, and experience that you can trust. If you have any questions or concerns about a copyright infringement case related to AI, we are here as a legal resource. Contact us today for your fully confidential initial consultation. Our firm, based in South Florida, provides copyright infringement representation throughout the region.
Source:
investopedia.com/disney-universal-sue-ai-image-creator-over-alleged-copyright-infringement-11752678
