Warner Bros. Discovery accuses Midjourney of bold, alleged theft in legal action
In a significant development in the world of AI and intellectual property, Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against the independent startup, Midjourney, in a California federal court. The lawsuit alleges that Midjourney's service is built on theft, dispensing Warner Bros. Discovery's intellectual property without authorization.
According to the complaint, Midjourney is accused of using illegal copies of Warner Bros. Discovery's copyrighted works, including iconic characters such as Bugs Bunny, Superman, Batman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and the Powerpuff Girls. This, the lawsuit argues, creates consumer confusion regarding what is lawful and what is not lawful.
The lawsuit joins a growing list of legal actions concerning AI's impact on film and TV. Disney and Comcast's Universal have also filed a complaint, labelling Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."
Warner Bros. Discovery claims that Midjourney is infringing copyrighted works and filed the suit to protect its content, partners, and investments. The company is seeking $150,000 per infringed work in damages.
Midjourney, founded in 2022 by CEO David Holz, is an independent startup that does not have external investors but collaborates with Meta under a licensing agreement. Reports suggest that Midjourney was directly involved in previous legal proceedings with Warner Bros. Discovery, regarding the use of its works without authorization.
In a separate development, Midjourney is accused of misleading its subscribers to believe that its infringing images and videos are authorized by Warner Bros. Discovery.
Elsewhere, the tech industry is also grappling with legal disputes. Google's AI is facing issues with a simple question, "Was 1995 30 years ago?" while Elon Musk's xAI is involved in a legal dispute with Apple and OpenAI.
Meanwhile, 4chan and Kiwi Farms have filed a lawsuit against the UK regulator over the Online Safety Act. The lawsuit highlights the complex and evolving landscape of tech and law.
The Hollywood Reporter reported on the lawsuit involving Midjourney and Warner Bros. Discovery, adding another layer to the ongoing conversation about AI, copyright, and consumer rights.
