Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc.

Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, Universal, and DreamWorks accuse Midjourney of both direct and secondary copyright infringement. Beyond copying and using Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works to train its AI Image Service, Midjourney allegedly encourages and profits from users’ creation of infringing content.

The Plaintiffs assert that Midjourney has the ability to control which copyrighted materials are used in training and to block infringing prompts, yet fails to implement such safeguards despite doing so for hate speech or nudity. The complaint alleges Midjourney knowingly facilitates infringement, deriving substantial revenue (allegedly over $300 million in 2024) from a service that attracts users precisely because it can reproduce famous characters. Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, statutory damages up to $150,000 per work, and attorneys’ fees, citing Midjourney’s willful and systemic disregard for copyright law.

This summary is provided for educational and research purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Allegations described are those made in the filings. Please consult the underlying source documents.