Universal Adds AI Training Warnings to Films Amid Midjourney Legal Dispute

Universal Pictures has started including legal disclaimers in the closing credits of its films, explicitly stating that the content “may not be used to train AI,” as part of a broader effort by Hollywood studios to safeguard intellectual property from unauthorized use in artificial intelligence systems [1]. The warnings have been added to recent releases such as How to Train Your Dragon and Jurassic World Rebirth, signaling a growing concern over AI image generators leveraging copyrighted material without permission [1].

The move comes amid a legal challenge from Midjourney, an AI image generator, which recently filed a response to a lawsuit brought by Disney and Universal in June. The lawsuit accused Midjourney of engaging in “vast, intentional, and unrelenting copyright infringement” by allowing users to create unauthorized reproductions of iconic characters from franchises like Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney animated films [1].

In its 43-page filing, Midjourney argued that copyright law does not grant absolute control over the use of creative works and emphasized the importance of “fair use” as a legal defense. The company highlighted recent federal court rulings that have supported AI training as a “transformative fair use,” particularly in cases where authors sued tech firms like Meta and Anthropic over the use of books in AI model training [1].

Midjourney further pointed out that many of its subscribers are linked to corporate email addresses associated with the plaintiff studios, suggesting that Disney and Universal employees themselves may benefit from using the very service they now claim is infringing [1]. The firm also noted that generative AI tools are widely used by visual effects companies working directly with the studios, raising the question of whether the studios are seeking to profit from AI technology while simultaneously suing the companies that offer similar tools [1].

The AI firm emphasized that the studios have not followed the appropriate procedures outlined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to issue takedown requests. Instead, they have made broad allegations without specifying particular images or URLs for removal [1].

The response from Midjourney also referenced comments made by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who praised AI as an “invaluable tool for artists,” arguing that the studios themselves stand to benefit from the same technology they are now challenging in court [1].

Industry experts have noted the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI training. “Training on large datasets has been standard practice, but now the industry is being forced to rethink what counts as fair use,” said MLOps engineer Midhun Krishna M at Juno AI [1]. The case raises broader concerns about how generative AI tools might be restricted if even slight visual similarities are treated as infringement, potentially limiting the development and use of such technologies [1].

As the legal battle unfolds, it highlights the tension between AI innovation and copyright enforcement in the entertainment industry. The outcome could have significant implications for how AI tools are developed, deployed, and regulated in creative fields.

Source: [1] Universal Adds ‘No AI Training’ Warnings to Films as Midjourney Claims ‘Fair Use’ (https://decrypt.co/333909/universal-adds-no-ai-training-warnings-to-films-as-midjourney-claims-fair-use)