Midjourney has formally requested that major Hollywood studios disclose their internal use of generative artificial intelligence, escalating an ongoing legal battle over intellectual property rights. According to a report by Variety, the AI developer filed a motion this week demanding that Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. reveal how they employ AI technology, arguing that these practices are central to its legal defense against copyright infringement claims.
Why is Midjourney seeking internal studio data?
Midjourney’s legal counsel, Bobby Ghajar, argues that the requested information is essential to the company’s defense. The AI developer is currently fighting lawsuits filed last year by the three studios, which allege that Midjourney trained its models on protected works and generated unauthorized derivative content featuring their intellectual property. According to Ghajar, the studios’ own use of generative AI could support Midjourney’s “fair use” defense, suggesting that using unlicensed content to train or operate AI models is a standard practice across the entertainment industry.
The request for documentation includes internal strategy presentations and board-level discussions regarding generative AI, aiming to prove that the studios participate in the same technological processes they currently seek to penalize.
How have the studios responded to the request?
The studios have rejected Midjourney’s claims, framing the litigation as a standard protection of intellectual property. David Singer, representing the studios, stated that the legal action is not intended to stifle AI development but to stop Midjourney from “copying movies and television shows and producing derivative works that include famous characters owned by the studios without obtaining the necessary permits.” According to Singer, any IP owner would take similar action against an entity infringing on their rights, regardless of the technology used.
What is the current status of AI adoption in Hollywood?
Hollywood’s relationship with AI remains complex, characterized by both high-profile partnerships and significant internal shifts. Disney, for example, previously explored a $1 billion investment in OpenAI to integrate its characters into the Sora video generation platform, according to reports. However, that specific project was shuttered earlier this year.
Conversely, other studios are formalizing AI integration. In September 2024, Lionsgate announced a partnership with Runway, a video AI developer, to create a custom model trained on the studio’s library. This collaboration, which expanded in 2026, focuses on using AI for pre-production and post-production tasks, including storyboarding and visual effects. This represents a distinct contrast to the litigation-heavy approach seen between Midjourney and the “Big Three” studios.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the core conflict between Midjourney and Hollywood studios?
Studios allege that Midjourney violated copyright by training AI on their intellectual property. Midjourney argues that the studios use similar AI methods themselves. - Have the studios been forced to release information yet?
Not entirely. While they agreed to provide some data on consumer-facing products, a June court ruling limited Midjourney’s access to internal AI project details. - What is the “fair use” defense in this context?
Midjourney’s lawyers are attempting to use the studios’ own AI practices to argue that training AI on existing content is an industry-standard “fair use” rather than an infringement.
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