Warner Bros Sues Midjourney Over Unauthorized Use of Iconic Characters Like Superman and Batman
Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI-based image generation platform Midjourney, alleging unauthorized copying of iconic characters such as Superman, Batman, and Scooby-Doo.
Kokcha News Agency – Warner Bros. Entertainment and its affiliates have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against Midjourney, accusing the AI platform of allowing users to generate images of its iconic characters without permission. The characters in question include Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and Bugs Bunny.
In the lawsuit, Warner Bros. highlighted specific details, such as the color of Scooby-Doo’s collar, which were allegedly replicated in Midjourney-generated images. The company also noted that users could generate images of Superman in specific settings or actions, effectively copying the character’s likeness.
Major Studios Unite Against AI
Warner Bros. is the third major studio to take legal action against Midjourney, following similar lawsuits filed by Disney and Universal Pictures in June. The lawsuit claims that Midjourney was aware of copyright violations, citing evidence that the platform initially blocked copyrighted characters when it first launched its video generation model but later removed these restrictions. Additionally, Midjourney reportedly eliminated “redteaming,” a security measure, from its terms of service.
Millions at Stake
Warner Bros. is seeking damages and an injunction to stop the alleged copyright violations. If the court rules in favor of Warner Bros., Midjourney could face penalties of up to $150,000 per copyright infringement, potentially resulting in significant financial consequences.
Midjourney, which boasts approximately 21 million users and generated an estimated $300 million in revenue in 2024, has yet to comment on the lawsuit. The platform offers subscription packages ranging from $10 to $120 per month.
Part of a Broader Legal Battle
The lawsuit is part of a larger conflict between the entertainment industry and AI companies over the unauthorized use of copyrighted content in training and generating AI models. The issue of AI platforms using copyrighted material without permission continues to spark debate in the industry.
