Midjourney Seeks 3 Studios' AI Records as It Fights Copyright Suit
Updated
Updated · Gizmodo · Jul 5
Midjourney Seeks 3 Studios' AI Records as It Fights Copyright Suit
3 articles · Updated · Gizmodo · Jul 5
Summary
A new Midjourney motion asks Disney, Universal and Warner Bros. to disclose internal generative AI use, including training datasets, business plans and board presentations.
The filing follows a June ruling that limited discovery to consumer-facing AI, and Midjourney says broader records are central to its fair-use and unclean-hands defenses.
Midjourney argues any studio use of unlicensed copyrighted material to train AI would show an industry custom; the studios counter that the case is simply about stopping unauthorized copying of films, TV and characters.
Disney has been the most public of the three on AI, announcing a $1 billion OpenAI investment in late 2025 before that Sora-related plan collapsed earlier this year, leaving the lawsuit to shape how far studios engage with AI.
As Hollywood sues for AI copyright theft, could its own secret AI projects unravel the entire case?
With courts divided on AI's legality, will this case finally decide if training models is fair use or theft?
Midjourney’s $300 Million Copyright Battle: How Hollywood’s Lawsuit Could Reshape AI and Creative Industries
Overview
The ongoing copyright lawsuit against Midjourney has reached a crucial stage, with both sides battling over the scope of discovery. A magistrate judge limited discovery to only consumer-facing AI applications, restricting what Midjourney can learn about the studios’ internal AI use. Midjourney is appealing this decision, arguing that knowing how Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. use AI internally is vital for its defense. The studios, however, strongly oppose this broader discovery, fearing exposure of sensitive information. The outcome of this appeal will significantly impact how both parties can build their cases and could shape future AI copyright disputes.