Midjourney wants Hollywood studios to reveal the details of their AI usage

Midjourney, an AI startup, is currently in a legal dispute with three major Hollywood studios: Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. The studios initiated lawsuits last year, claiming Midjourney's image-generation models infringed on their copyrights by creating images of their iconic characters, such as Bart Simpson and Darth Vader. Midjourney, however, asserts that training its AI models on copyrighted content falls under fair use.

The core of the current legal struggle centers on the extent of documentation the studios must provide regarding their internal AI usage. A previous judicial ruling limited this disclosure to "consumer-facing" AI applications. Midjourney is challenging this restriction, arguing that it selectively favors the studios' claims while hindering its defense. The startup believes the withheld documents would reveal whether the studios themselves engage in similar practices to those for which Midjourney is being sued.

Midjourney suggests that if studios use image-generating AI for internal processes like storyboarding, it would indicate an industry-wide custom of training AI on unlicensed copyrighted content. Furthermore, the startup demands that the studios reveal all prompts and outputs generated using Midjourney's platform, not just those alleged to be infringing. The studios' lead attorney has dismissed Midjourney's requests as a "fishing expedition," emphasizing their goal is not to halt AI development but to prevent unauthorized use of their intellectual property.