Following Disney and Universal, Warner Bros. has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI startup Midjourney. The studio argues that the system allows users to generate unauthorized images and videos of famous characters like Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny, and is seeking damages of up to $150,000 per work.
Warner Bros. claims Midjourney trained on illegal copies
According to Reuters, the complaint alleges that Midjourney trained its model on “illegal copies” of Warner Bros. works. It further claims the AI directs users to create downloadable content featuring characters such as Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and the Powerpuff Girls. Even broad prompts like “classic comic book superhero battle,” the filing says, tend to output recognizable DC characters.
Warner Bros. lists several core issues in its lawsuit:
- Midjourney allegedly trained on copyrighted Warner Bros. material
- The AI outputs images of protected characters when given generic prompts
- Users are encouraged to make downloadable content with DC icons
- The company refuses to block copyrighted characters despite filtering other content
The studio argues that Midjourney is “acting above the law” and insists it could easily filter copyrighted material as it does for nudity or violence.
Google Photos now lets free users animate their images using Veo 3, creating short AI-powered videos with simple effects.
Midjourney cites fair use defense
Like in the lawsuits from Disney and Universal, Midjourney plans to rely on a fair use defense. The company says it trained its model on billions of publicly available images and claims the process only teaches conceptual patterns. Responsibility for misuse, it says, lies with end users under the platform’s terms of service.
CEO David Holz has previously compared the system to a search engine, saying it mirrors how people learn art.
Hollywood backs the lawsuit
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has voiced support for Warner Bros. MPA CEO Charles Rivkin warned that unchecked copyright violations threaten an industry employing over 2 million people in the United States.
With three of Hollywood’s biggest studios now suing, Midjourney faces mounting legal pressure that could shape the future of AI training and copyright law.
