Warner Bros. Discovery(US:WBD) Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-09-12 23:14Core Viewpoint - Midjourney, an AI image generation company, is facing a lawsuit from Warner Bros. Discovery for copyright infringement related to iconic characters such as Superman and Batman, highlighting ongoing legal challenges in the AI-generated content space [4][6][11]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - Warner Bros. filed the lawsuit on September 4, claiming that Midjourney used copyrighted materials for training its AI models without authorization, leading to the generation of infringing images and videos [6][11]. - The lawsuit cites specific examples where users can generate images of characters like Batman by inputting simple text prompts, which Warner Bros. argues constitutes direct infringement [6][7]. - Warner Bros. seeks compensation for actual damages or statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed work, along with an injunction to prevent further unauthorized use of its IP [11]. Group 2: Previous Legal Issues - This is not the first lawsuit against Midjourney; earlier in June, Disney and Universal Pictures also filed a joint lawsuit against the company for similar copyright violations [8][9]. - Disney's lawsuit emphasizes that Midjourney is a "copyright parasite" and that the use of AI does not mitigate the infringement of copyrighted images and videos [8][9]. Group 3: Industry Implications - The ongoing legal battles are seen as pivotal in shaping the future of copyright law as it pertains to AI-generated content, with potential implications for the entire industry [9][12]. - The concept of "fair use" is expected to be a critical aspect of the upcoming legal proceedings, as Midjourney argues that its training practices fall under this principle [11][12]. - The case raises concerns about the impact of AI on traditional copyright protections and the potential for confusion among consumers regarding the legitimacy of AI-generated content [7][9].