Hollywood Studios Sue AI Firm Midjourney for Copyright Infringement

On September 4, 2025, it was reported that three major Hollywood studios have filed lawsuits against the AI company Midjourney over the unauthorized use of their copyrighted characters. Warner Bros. has become the latest to join Disney and Universal in suing Midjourney, accusing the AI firm of brazenly dispensing their intellectual property without consent.

The lawsuits allege that Midjourney's service allows subscribers to reproduce, display, and distribute infringing images and videos featuring iconic characters like Bugs Bunny, Batman, Scooby-Doo, and Rick & Morty. Warner Bros. argues this is a key draw of Midjourney's subscription model, which ranges from $10 to $120 per month.

The studios are seeking $150,000 in damages per infringed work, a figure that could potentially cripple the AI company financially given the millions of images on its platform. Midjourney has defended its practices, claiming its technology's use of copyrighted material is covered by "fair use" protections. However, the studios maintain that Midjourney is unlawfully competing with their own consumer products featuring these characters.

This legal battle is the latest in the ongoing clash between AI companies and media firms over the future of nascent technologies and intellectual property rights. As the use of AI-generated content continues to grow, the outcome of these lawsuits could have far-reaching implications for the industry.