The subject of artificial intelligence is a complicated one, especially in its unauthorized and unregulated proliferation into the creative arts. Numerous controversies have arisen due to utilizing AI in everything from altering human speech, to creating special effects artwork. Hollywood productions have been a main source of information and data AI engines learn from to create content, and most of it is being done without attribution or permission. Because of this, two of the biggest studios in the industry are filing a lawsuit against one of the largest AI companies.
On June 11th, 2025 Disney and Universal filed a 110-page lawsuit that alleges Midjourney’s algorithm trained itself on their copyrighted material. As part of the lawsuit, Disney and Universal submitted various images created by that algorithm, including spot-on pictures of Darth Vader, Spider-Man, Homer Simpson, and the Minions, amongst others.
Both companies had comments about the lawsuit, with some strong words about Midjourney. “…Piracy is piracy, and the fact that it’s done by an A.I. company does not make it any less infringing,” Horacio Gutierrez, general counsel for Disney, said.
“We are bringing this action today to protect the hard work of all the artists whose work entertains and inspires us and the significant investment we make in our content,” Universal general counsel Kim Harris said.
Despite the potential double standard there (studios want to use AI to replace people, but want to protect their own intellectual properties from being infringed on via AI) there is legitimate concern for how AI scrapes information from the hard work and imagination of others.
Disney and NBC Universal are seeking unspecified monetary damages as well as injunctive relief against Midjourney infringing on and distributing copyrighted material. As the lawsuit was just filed, this is a developing story. The implications of this lawsuit could be huge in terms of how it will impact the field of AI given the powerhouses behind the filing. We’ll continue to update as the lawsuit progresses.
