In 2025, The Walt Disney Company became a central figure in a landmark copyright infringement lawsuit against Midjourney, an artificial intelligence (AI) image-generation platform. This legal action, filed jointly with Universal Pictures, represents one of the first major confrontations between Hollywood studios and AI technology providers over the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. Disney alleges that Midjourney trained its AI models using Disney’s protected intellectual property without permission, enabling the platform’s users to generate unauthorized images of iconic Disney characters, infringing on Disney’s copyrights and intellectual property rights.
Background and Origins of the Disney Lawsuit
The lawsuit was filed in June 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Disney and Universal accuse Midjourney of using extensive copyrighted works, scraped from the internet without consent, to develop AI software that produces highly detailed images reproducing well-known characters such as Elsa from “Frozen,” Darth Vader from “Star Wars,” and other beloved figures. The complaint characterizes Midjourney as a “bottomless pit of plagiarism” and a “virtual vending machine” enabling infringement across hundreds of works.
Before filing the suit, Disney and Universal had reportedly issued cease-and-desist requests that were ignored by Midjourney. The studios allege willful and calculated copyright violations and claim that Midjourney generates substantial revenue from its millions of subscribers through this infringing activity.
Legal Claims and Issues
- Copyright Infringement: Disney claims Midjourney unlawfully used its copyrighted images to train AI models without licenses or authorization.
- Derivative Works: The AI-generated images replicate and reproduce Disney’s iconic characters, constituting unauthorized derivative works under copyright law.
- Monetary Damages: Disney is seeking statutory damages potentially up to $150,000 per infringed work, amounting to tens of millions of dollars in total.
- Permanent Injunction: The studios are requesting a court order to prevent Midjourney from continuing copyright infringements.
Midjourney’s Response
Midjourney’s legal team argues that the use of copyrighted works in AI training constitutes fair use under copyright law. They contend that AI training involves limited portions of copyrighted material, comparable to how artists are influenced by existing images, and assert that the studios cannot block AI development while themselves utilizing AI tools. Midjourney also highlighted that employees from Disney allegedly use their platform, emphasizing the complexity and ubiquity of AI in creative industries.
Other Disney-Related Litigation
Aside from the AI copyright lawsuit, Disney is also involved in ongoing legal challenges, including a significant gender pay discrimination class action settlement agreeing to pay over $43 million to current and former female employees in California. Additionally, Disney faced a proposed consumer antitrust settlement related to its streaming services, addressing allegations of anti-competitive practices affecting live-streamed TV pricing.
Broader Implications
The Disney-Midjourney lawsuit marks a historic moment in the intersection of intellectual property law and emerging AI technology. Its outcome could set important precedents for how AI training data is sourced and the legal boundaries of AI-generated creative content. The case raises fundamental questions about copyright protection in the digital age, creative rights, and innovation balance. For the entertainment industry, the lawsuit underscores the ongoing challenges of protecting valuable content in an era of rapid technological change.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Disney Lawsuit
What is Disney suing Midjourney for?
Disney is suing Midjourney for copyright infringement, alleging unauthorized use of Disney’s copyrighted material to train AI models and create infringing images of Disney’s characters.
What damages is Disney seeking?
Disney seeks statutory damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, a permanent injunction to stop further infringements, and any profits gained by Midjourney from the alleged violations.
How has Midjourney responded to the lawsuit?
Midjourney claims that AI training falls under fair use and argues that using copyrighted works in limited ways to train AI is legally permissible.
Are there other lawsuits involving Disney?
Yes, Disney is involved in significant gender pay discrimination litigation and consumer antitrust settlements related to its business practices and streaming services platforms.
What could the outcome of the lawsuit mean for AI and copyright law?
The case could influence future legal standards for AI training data usage, copyright protections for creative works in AI outputs, and how the entertainment industry safeguards its intellectual property in the AI era.
Conclusion
The Disney lawsuit against Midjourney represents a pioneering legal battle at the crossroads of traditional intellectual property rights and new AI technologies altering content creation. As the case progresses through the courts, it will shape how copyright law adapts to generative AI innovations and define the responsibilities of AI companies toward original content creators. This case not only reflects Disney’s commitment to protecting its creative assets but also highlights the broader cultural and legal shifts facing the media and technology sectors in the 2020s.
