Recently, with the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, AI-generated images, videos, and other multimodal products have gradually come into the public eye. However, technological advancements have also sparked major controversies over copyright and intellectual property. Warner Bros. Discovery, a renowned Hollywood production company, officially filed a lawsuit against AI image generation company Midjourney on September 4, accusing it of allowing users to generate content similar to its well-known characters (such as Superman, Batman, Bugs Bunny, and Tom and Jerry) without authorization, constituting serious infringement of Warner Bros.' multiple intellectual property rights.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident. Earlier on June 11, Disney, Universal Studios, and their affiliated companies Pixar, Marvel, and DreamWorks also jointly sued Midjourney, accusing the company of supporting users in creating images of classic animated characters such as Minions, "Frozen," and "Shrek" without obtaining permission, and considering this behavior as "riding on the coattails" and "unscrupulous plagiarism."
Warner Bros.' action is undoubtedly another important signal from Hollywood movie studios against AI infringement. With the popularity of AI-generated content, many developers often overlook the possibility that these contents may infringe on existing intellectual property rights while promoting technological development. Especially when users use these AI tools, they are likely to create images similar to well-known film and television works, causing great trouble for original creators.
In this context, Warner Bros. and other Hollywood companies have stepped forward to protect their intellectual property and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of creators. They hope to curb the gray areas of AI technology in copyright protection through legal means, ensuring the sustainable development of the creative industry.
This series of events has triggered widespread public discussion about AI technology and its impact on the traditional creative industry. Can AI become a valuable assistant for creators, or will it threaten the originality of creation? As the litigation progresses, we may see clearer legal boundaries and stricter regulations on the application of AI technology in the future.
