Midjourney Demands Disney, Studios Reveal AI Usage in Lawsuit

AI startup Midjourney is asking a US court to make Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. reveal how they use artificial intelligence. This request comes during the discovery phase of an ongoing copyright lawsuit. Midjourney claims these Hollywood studios might be using AI in ways similar to what they accuse Midjourney of doing. Last year, Disney and Universal sued Midjourney, alleging its AI model could create images of copyrighted characters like Bart Simpson and Darth Vader without permission. Warner Bros. later joined the lawsuit. The studios argue Midjourney infringed their copyrights by allowing users to generate these character images. A judge previously limited the studios to producing documents related to generative AI used for consumer-facing images and videos. Midjourney is now asking the court to remove that limitation. The startup argues this restriction unfairly allows the studios to cherry-pick documents while withholding others that could support Midjourney's defense. The company suggests the withheld records would show if the studios are doing exactly what they're suing Midjourney for. The studios' lead attorney called Midjourney's request a "fishing expedition." If the court orders broader disclosure, it could set a precedent for future AI copyright cases, potentially making discovery in similar lawsuits more transparent. This could impact how companies pursue copyright claims against AI developers in the future.