Midjourney, a generative AI startup, has launched a new video tool called V1 that allows users to create animated clips using images. This development comes amid a significant legal challenge: Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming it infringes on their copyrights by generating content featuring their intellectual property.
The V1 tool enables animation of copyrighted characters, including iconic figures like Wall-E, Shrek, Deadpool, and others. Users can make clips from images they generate or upload, but currently, the tool requires a visual starting point rather than text prompts.
The lawsuit, which follows accusations from Disney and Universal of "piracy," highlights serious concerns over Midjourney’s practices. Executives at Disney, including Horacio Gutierrez, have emphasized that the creative outputs of Midjourney amount to illegal uses of their characters.
In an effort to mitigate copyright infringements, Midjourney appears to have implemented certain limitations within the V1 tool. Initial tests revealed that the tool blocked animations of characters from Frozen, Boss Baby, and Mickey Mouse, though images could still be generated. However, despite these measures, it was found that V1 can still produce clips featuring a range of other copyrighted characters, sometimes in inappropriate scenarios.
In tests conducted by WIRED, it was possible to find workarounds to the restrictions, allowing for the creation of videos depicting characters in adult situations, such as Wall-E with a firearm and Yoda smoking. This raises further questions about the effectiveness of Midjourney’s guardrails against copyright violation.
The lawsuit from Disney and Universal represents a critical threat to Midjourney as it faces other legal challenges from visual artists alleging similar copyright infringements. The case claims that the addition of video functionality only exacerbates the potential for copyright violations, as it allows for the distribution of unauthorized reproductions and derivatives of these companies’ works.
Gary Marcus, a critic of AI and one of the report’s authors highlighting Midjourney’s visual plagiarism issues, has stated that the situation has not improved significantly over the last 18 months, noting the ongoing use of unlicensed materials and ineffective guardrails.
