Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) has filed a lawsuit against AI photo-generation company Midjourney, accusing it of illegally using iconic characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Bugs Bunny, and Scooby-Doo to train and generate images without authorization.
In a complaint lodged in Los Angeles federal court, Warner Bros alleged that Midjourney built its platform by exploiting copyrighted material, enabling subscribers to create high-quality, downloadable depictions of its characters “in every imaginable scene.” The lawsuit claims Midjourney knowingly disregarded copyright protections, pointing to the company’s prior restriction on video generation from infringing images, a safeguard that was recently lifted and promoted as an upgrade.
“Midjourney has made a calculated and profit-driven decision to offer zero protection for copyright owners, even though it knows the breathtaking scope of its piracy,” the complaint states. Warner Bros is seeking damages, disgorgement of profits, and an injunction to stop further unauthorized use.
The action follows a similar case brought in June by Walt Disney and Comcast’s Universal, which accused Midjourney of misusing characters including Darth Vader, Shrek, Bart Simpson, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
Founded in 2022 by David Holz, San Francisco-based Midjourney has grown rapidly, amassing nearly 21 million users and generating an estimated $300 million in revenue in 2024. The company has previously argued that training AI models on copyrighted works falls under “fair use,” allowing for the “free flow of ideas and information.”
Warner Bros, whose portfolio spans DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, and Turner Entertainment, said protecting its intellectual property is vital to safeguarding its creative partnerships and investments. “The heart of what we do is develop stories and characters to entertain our audiences,” a company spokesperson said.
The case is Warner Bros Entertainment Inc et al v Midjourney Inc, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 25-08376.