Warner Bros Discovery has escalated ongoing legal disputes concerning copyright infringement by filing a lawsuit against the AI image generator Midjourney. This marks the latest legal challenge after Disney and Universal initiated similar proceedings earlier this year, accusing Midjourney of using their intellectual property without authorization.
Filed on September 4, 2025, in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the Warner Bros lawsuit alleges that Midjourney has been producing unauthorized images and videos depicting copyrighted characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, the Joker, and Scooby-Doo. The complaint claims that Midjourney "brazenly dispenses Warner Bros Discovery's intellectual property as if it were its own," highlighting the platform’s failure to implement measures protecting copyright holders.
Midjourney is a generative AI service that creates images based on user text prompts. However, the core concern is its unrestricted ability to replicate copyrighted characters and scenes. The lawsuit includes examples found on Midjourney’s own Discord and subreddit community, illustrating the widespread availability of infringing content. Warner Bros contends that the company consciously chose not to enact technological barriers against copyright infringement, despite being aware of the issue’s scale.
This lawsuit follows a similar legal action filed by Disney and Universal in June 2023. Both lawsuits highlight the tension between rapid AI advancements in image generation and existing copyright laws. Midjourney has defended its practices by invoking "fair use" and pointing out that copyright law does not grant absolute control over the utilization of protected works. Additionally, Midjourney claims that employees and affiliates of Disney and NBCUniversal have used its platform, complicating the narrative.
Legal experts anticipate that the outcomes of these suits could set important precedents for the AI industry, potentially shaping future regulations concerning copyright protections in generative AI tools. As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in gaming, entertainment, and creative sectors, these cases underscore the urgency of addressing intellectual property challenges.
The ongoing disputes also emphasize broader industry conversations about the rights and protections of content creators, especially as AI tools enter mainstream use. The legal battle over Midjourney exemplifies the complex intersection of technology, creativity, and copyright law—a critical issue for the future of digital content creation.
With the combined legal pressure from major media companies such as Warner Bros Discovery, Disney, and Universal, Midjourney may soon be compelled to revise its copyright policies, potentially influencing standards across the AI art generation industry.
