What happened

WBD sued AI image and video generation company Midjourney for copyright infringement, accusing it of unlawfully using its copyrighted characters such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and others to generate images and videos without authorisation. 

The lawsuit alleges that Midjourney intentionally produces and distributes unauthorised reproductions and derivatives of WDB's intellectual property to its subscribers, profiting from them without consent. 

Despite being aware of the widespread copyright violations, Midjourney stands accused of failing to implement safeguards to protect copyright holders.

The legal action follows similar lawsuits filed earlier by Disney and Universal against Midjourney, collectively representing significant Hollywood studios aiming to stop AI-generated copyright violations. 

WBD contends that Midjourney's AI was trained on illegal copies of their copyrighted works and that the company's decision to remove restrictions on video generation has further exacerbated the problem. 

WBD is seeking damages, an injunction to halt Midjourney’s infringement, and stronger copyright protections from the court.

Why it happened

WBD accuses Midjourney of copyright infringement largely because Midjourney built a profitable business model by training its AI extensively on copyrighted content owned by WBD and other studios without obtaining licenses or permissions. 

Midjourney’s AI reportedly memorises and reproduces protected characters like Batman and Bugs Bunny even when users do not explicitly mention them, generating unauthorised copies and derivative works.

The company operates a paid subscription service, profiting directly from the widespread use and distribution of these copyrighted images and videos. 

This commercial exploitation of WBD's intellectual property without compensation or authorisation is a calculated, profit-driven choice by Midjourney to grow its user base and revenue, despite knowing the legal risks and copyright violations involved.