Warner Bros. sues Midjourney for AI images of Superman, Batman, and other characters (techcrunch.com)

Warner Bros. has filed a lawsuit against AI startup Midjourney, accusing the company of copyright infringement for enabling users to generate images and videos of iconic characters like Superman, Batman, and Bugs Bunny without authorization. The lawsuit alleges that Midjourney intentionally abandoned previously implemented safeguards meant to prevent the creation of content based on copyrighted material, prioritizing profits over protection for copyright holders. This legal action seeks unspecified damages, the return of profits derived from the infringements, and an injunction against further violations. This case highlights the growing tension between copyright law and the rapidly evolving AI art generation landscape, following a similar lawsuit earlier this year by Disney and Universal targeting Midjourney. Warner Bros. emphasizes that the startup’s practices facilitate large-scale unauthorized use of protected characters, raising critical questions about how AI models are trained and the responsibilities of their operators. Midjourney’s defense, as seen in related cases, leans on the fair use doctrine, arguing that using copyrighted works in training generative AI models constitutes legal use—though this contention remains legally untested. The outcome of these suits could set important legal precedents for AI/ML development, particularly around the boundaries of training data usage and intellectual property rights. It underscores the imperative for AI companies to navigate copyright compliance carefully as generative models become increasingly capable and commercially viable.