Midjourney’s latest AI tool churns out videos featuring Disney and Universal’s copyrighted characters, including a gun-toting Wall-E. If you think this is new, it’s not. This kind of tech has been stepping on copyright toes for a while, but now it’s getting bolder.
This month, Midjourney launched a new video tool, V1, which turns images into short animated clips. But don’t get too excited; it won’t take text prompts—yet. This release comes right after Disney and Universal slapped them with a lawsuit, claiming Midjourney’s outputs are basically piracy.
Midjourney’s keeping quiet, but Disney and Universal are loud. Disney’s legal head is calling this “piracy.” The tool supposedly has some safeguards against using characters like Elsa or Mickey Mouse, but it’s like putting a flimsy lock on a wide-open door. It still cranks out animations of characters like Homer Simpson, Shrek, and Darth Vader.
Even with some guardrails, it’s easy to slip through them. WIRED managed to generate clips of familiar characters doing things that’d make lawyers cringe, like Wall-E with a gun or Yoda with a joint. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this circus. Remember Napster?
This lawsuit could be a massive headache for Midjourney, but it’s not their only legal battle. Visual artists are also on their tail for copyright infringement. The complaint argues that video capabilities just make it easier to spread infringing content.
The lawsuit cites a pile of Midjourney images showcasing Universal and Disney characters. These were initially part of a report on Midjourney’s “visual plagiarism problem” by AI critic Gary Marcus and artist Reid Southen. Marcus points out that despite the tech hype, what we’re getting are prettier pictures, not real solutions to copyright issues.
In the end, it’s a familiar story. Tech outpaces the law, and companies dance on the edge until someone falls off. If you’re investing in AI, keep an eye on the legal landscape. It’s not just about tech potential; it’s about navigating the minefield of intellectual property.
