Core Viewpoint - Disney and Universal have initiated a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney, marking a significant legal confrontation between major Hollywood studios and generative AI technology [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, alleging that Midjourney has pirated the libraries of Disney and Universal to create and distribute unauthorized copies of their iconic characters, including Darth Vader and the Minions [2][8]. - The complaint describes Midjourney as a "quintessential copyright free-rider" and emphasizes that the use of AI does not exempt the company from copyright infringement [3][5]. Group 2: Company Response and Context - Disney and Universal claim that Midjourney has ignored their requests to cease infringing activities and to implement technological measures to prevent such image generation [6]. - Midjourney's CEO, David Holz, previously characterized the service as a "search engine" for images, suggesting that copyright concerns should evolve alongside human creativity [7][10]. - The lawsuit is part of a broader trend, with increasing legal actions against AI developers, including cases against OpenAI and Anthropic, and a notable trial involving Getty Images and Stability AI in London [12].

Core Viewpoint - Disney and Universal have initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI company Midjourney, labeling it a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" and marking a significant legal confrontation between Hollywood studios and AI firms [3][4]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, accuses Midjourney of unauthorized use of Disney and Universal's intellectual property, including iconic characters like Darth Vader, Elsa, and Minions [4][5]. - The studios claim that Midjourney has generated high-quality reproductions of their characters without permission, using their copyrighted works to train its image generation service [4][6]. - Disney and Universal are seeking unspecified monetary damages and a preliminary injunction to prevent further infringement and to enforce copyright protections [8]. Group 2: Company Actions and Revenue - Prior to the lawsuit, Disney and Universal approached Midjourney regarding their copyright concerns, requesting the implementation of measures to prevent infringement, which Midjourney allegedly ignored [6][8]. - Midjourney reportedly generated $300 million in revenue last year through paid subscriptions, indicating a significant financial incentive for the company to continue its operations despite the legal challenges [7]. Group 3: Context of Legal Action - This lawsuit represents the first major legal battle between major entertainment studios and an AI company, following previous lawsuits from independent artists against Midjourney and other generative AI firms for similar copyright issues [3][8]. - A California federal judge previously ruled that artists had a plausible case against Midjourney and other AI companies for copying and storing their work, allowing litigation to proceed [8].