Disney and Universal sue Midjourney over AI versions mimicking their major characters

Disney and Universal sue Midjourney over AI that mimics characters like Shrek and Darth Vader, demanding a jury trial for copyright infringement.

: Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney for generating AI images resembling characters from their franchises. The legal battle highlights the tension between traditional IP protections and emerging generative AI technologies. Midjourney's tool allegedly generates images of characters like Shrek and Darth Vader without compensation. The case emphasizes the growing importance of copyright laws in the age of AI and digital content creation.

On June 11 and 12, 2025, Disney and Universal jointly filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles against Midjourney, an AI image-generation platform. The entertainment giants allege that Midjourney violated copyright laws by training its models on countless protected works without permission. The complaint states that the platform allows users to generate near-exact images of iconic characters like Darth Vader, Elsa, Shrek, Buzz Lightyear, and Homer Simpson—even without explicitly naming them in prompts.

Disney and Universal describe Midjourney as a "virtual vending machine" for unauthorized replicas, accusing the company of operating a “bottomless pit of plagiarism.” According to the lawsuit, Midjourney generated around $300 million in 2024 profits while avoiding any licensing costs. The generated images are not only similar but often indistinguishably detailed, making it difficult for the average person to tell them apart from the originals.

Before filing the lawsuit, the studios claim they asked Midjourney to implement content filters to prevent the generation of copyrighted characters. Despite having filters for nudity and violence, the company allegedly refused to do the same for intellectual property. Instead, it continued rolling out upgraded AI models, further enhancing their ability to mimic protected characters with greater realism.

The plaintiffs emphasize that AI is no excuse to bypass copyright law, stating bluntly: “Piracy is piracy, no matter the tool.” The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to halt current and future releases of Midjourney’s technology unless copyright safeguards are implemented. Legal analysts consider this case a pivotal test that could compel AI companies to rethink how they train their models and deploy generative tools.

This lawsuit marks the first time major Hollywood studios have directly sued an AI company over image-based copyright violations. Previous legal efforts by independent artists were allowed to proceed, but this high-profile case may establish clearer precedent. Organizations like the Motion Picture Association and RIAA have voiced support, calling it a critical move to protect creative IP in the AI era. The outcome could define how copyright law applies to generative AI moving forward.

Sources: Reuters, The Verge, ABC News, NPR, Business Insider, The Guardian, Washington Post

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