Disney and Universal filed a landmark copyright lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney, according to Benzinga. The studios accuse the startup of exploiting protected characters like Elsa, Darth Vader, and the Minions for profit. The complaint describes Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism," alleging it built a $300 million business by enabling users to generate images based on iconic IP without permission. The studios say Midjourney continued to monetize their characters through paid plans ranging from $10 to $120 per month. The suit marks a major test of copyright law in the age of generative AI, following similar cases filed by Reddit and Getty against other AI firms. Disney and Universal argue the infringement harms not just their own brands, but the entire $260 billion American film industry.
