The legal battle between Midjourney and major Hollywood studios enters a new phase. The AI image generator has asked a federal court to order Warner Bros Discovery, Disney, and Universal Studios to disclose detailed information about their use of artificial intelligence. According to Variety, Midjourney wants the companies to submit AI business plans, research reports, training datasets, model weights, and even board meeting presentations.
Background of the copyright lawsuit
Last year, the studios sued Midjourney for copyright infringement, alleging that the generator can create images of copyrighted characters like Superman and Batman. Midjourney argues that training AI on publicly available images constitutes fair use, and that the studios themselves use similar practices for their own AI models. The company contends that if the studios are also training on copyrighted works, their lawsuit should be dismissed.
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The magistrate’s order and Midjourney’s appeal
In mid-June, a magistrate judge ruled that the studios could withhold most information about their AI use, only requiring them to hand over data related to consumer-facing AI applications. Midjourney is now asking the federal court to overturn that order. Attorney Bobby Ghajar wrote that evidence of the studios’ own AI training on copyrighted works is central to Midjourney’s fair use and unclean hands defenses. If plaintiffs are doing what they seek to punish, that evidence is crucial.
Potential impact on future AI litigation
The federal judge’s decision could set a precedent for what information is admissible in AI-related lawsuits. If Midjourney succeeds, it may force studios to disclose their AI practices, weakening their claims. If denied, AI companies may find it harder to defend against similar accusations. The case is closely watched by the tech industry as it could redefine fair use boundaries in generative AI.
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Midjourney’s request goes beyond general data; it specifically asks for the studios’ AI business plans, research reports, training datasets, model weights, and even board presentations. This level of detail could reveal whether the studios are using copyrighted material to train their own models. Midjourney argues that if the studios are doing exactly what they accuse Midjourney of, the fair use defense becomes stronger and the lawsuit loses its moral ground.
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The unclean hands doctrine is a key element. It means that a party who has acted unethically cannot seek relief from the court. Midjourney’s attorney emphasized that if the studios have trained their AI on copyrighted works without permission, they cannot claim infringement against Midjourney. The federal court’s ruling on the scope of discovery will therefore have significant implications.
For a look at how AI is influencing other fields, see the article on three nuclear startups reaching criticality, a symbolic milestone for emerging technologies. To learn more about the legal concept of fair use, visit Wikipedia’s fair use page.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2207936/midjourney-wants-studios-that-sued-show-court-ai-use
