Disney and Universal Sue Midjourney for AI-Generated Character Copyright Infringement
60 Sources
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In landmark suit, Disney and Universal sue Midjourney for AI character theft
On Wednesday, Disney and NBCUniversal filed a lawsuit against AI image-synthesis company Midjourney, accusing the company of copyright infringement for allowing users to create images of characters like Darth Vader and Shrek, reports The Hollywood Reporter. The complaint, filed in US District Court
[2]
In landmark suit, Disney and Universal sue Midjourney for AI...
AI slop and the hypocrisy of the same industry using it to replace human workers suing someone else over it aside (haven't forgotten your AI Vader yet, Disney - I'm sure it had lots of non Disney training data), I am once again forced to root for grifter tech bros in a lawsuit Those classic Disney
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Disney and Universal Sue AI Company Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, alleging that the San Francisco-based AI image generation startup is a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that generates "endless unauthorized copies" of the studios' work. There are already dozens of copyright lawsuits against AI companies
[4]
Disney and Universal lawsuit may be killing blow in AI copyright wars
Two huge movie studios are suing Midjourney, claiming the firm's AI has been trained on their copyrighted material - the entrance of the Hollywood giants into this legal fight could be a watershed moment for AI and copyright Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against AI image generator
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Disney, Universal Sue Midjourney Over AI Images, Calling It 'a Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism'
Katelyn is a writer with CNET covering social media, AI and online services. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. You can often find her with a novel and an iced coffee during her time off. Disney and several of its entertainment
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'Textbook Copyright Infringement': Disney and Universal Sue AI Image Generator Midjourney
Katelyn is a writer with CNET covering social media, AI and online services. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. You can often find her with a novel and an iced coffee during her time off. Disney, Universal and several of their
[7]
Disney and Universal sue Midjourney for making AI ripoffs of their biggest characters
Hayden Field is The Verge's senior AI reporter. An AI beat reporter for more than five years, her work has also appeared in CNBC, MIT Technology Review, Wired UK, and other outlets. Disney and Universal sued Midjourney on Wednesday for generating Shrek, Darth Vader, Buzz Lightyear, and a host of
[8]
Disney, Universal Sue Midjourney for Creating 'Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism'
A new hazard has materialized in Midjourney's path: a copyright lawsuit brought by Disney and Universal on Wednesday that accuses the AI image-generation platform of duplicating the copyrighted work of the two entertainment giants. In the suit, Disney's studios -- Disney Enterprises, Marvel
[9]
Disney, Comcast Sue AI Image Generator Midjourney
Walt Disney Co. and Comcast Corp. teamed up to sue Midjourney Inc., accusing the startup of copyright infringement in the latest sign of tension between major media companies and a new crop of artificial intelligence businesses. Midjourney, which launched publicly in 2022, allows people to create
[10]
Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
LOS ANGELES, June 11 (Reuters) - Walt Disney (DIS.N), opens new tab and Comcast's (CMCSA.O), opens new tab Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the studios' best-known
[11]
Disney and Universal sue AI image company Midjourney for unlicensed use of Star Wars, The Simpsons and more
It is the first AI copyright lawsuit from Hollywood giants. The lawsuit claims that the company used and distributed AI-generated characters from the movie studios like Star Wars, The Simpsons and other films and alleges that Midjourney disregarded requests to stop. Disney and Universal are
[12]
Disney and Universal Studios file suit against Midjourney for copyright infringement
The scathing complaint includes AI-generated images from numerous infringed properties. Disney and NBCUniversal have filed a joint suit against AI company Midjourney alleging copyright infringement on their various properties. The complaint, filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, includes
[13]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
NEW YORK (AP) -- Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the
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Disney and Universal Sue A.I. Firm Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
Disney and Universal sued a prominent artificial intelligence start-up for copyright infringement on Wednesday, bringing Hollywood belatedly into the increasingly intense legal battle over generative A.I. The movie companies sued Midjourney, an A.I. image generator that has millions of registered
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Artificial intelligence: Disney and Universal sue Midjourney over copyright
Midjourney's image generator makes images from typed requests or prompts. In the lawsuit filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the studios gave examples of Midjourney-generated images that included Disney characters such as Star Wars' Yoda and Marvel's Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk and
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How Disney's AI lawsuit could shift the future of entertainment
A battle has been raging between AI companies and copyright holders. Disney and Universal just stepped into the ring. The battle over the future of AI-generated content escalated on Wednesday as two Hollywood titans sued a fast-growing AI start-up for copyright infringement. Disney and Universal,
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In first-of-its-kind lawsuit, Hollywood giants sue AI firm for copyright infringement
The lawsuit juxtaposes images of copyrighted characters, such as Disney's Homer Simpson, shown above on the right, beside images output by Midjourney, left. Disney Enterprises, Inc., Marvel Characters, Inc., MVL Film Finance LLC, Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, and
[18]
Disney and Universal Studios Sue AI Image Generator Midjourney Over Copyright
In a significant escalation of the legal tensions between creative industries and AI firms, Disney and Universal have filed a joint lawsuit against generative AI company Midjourney, accusing it of widespread copyright infringement. The complaint, filed jointly in federal district court in Los
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Disney and Universal sue AI image creator Midjourney, alleging copyright infringement
Studios accuse AI firm of 'piracy' and seek injunction over alleged use of copyrighted characters Disney and Universal sued an artificial intelligence company on Wednesday, alleging copyright infringement. In their lawsuit, the entertainment giants called Midjourney's popular AI-powered image
[20]
'A bottomless pit of plagiarism': Disney takes on AI image generator Midjourney in scathing lawsuit
The House of Mouse is not to be trifled with. Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, entertainment giants Disney and Comcast's Universal have teamed up to take on Midjourney, the generative AI image platform, accusing it of copyright
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"Piracy Is Piracy": Disney Sues Midjourney for Massive Copyright Violation
Disney and NBCUniversal -- a pair of media behemoths behind franchises ranging from "Star Wars" and "Toy Story" to "Minions" and "Shrek" -- are suing AI company Midjourney, accusing it of enabling copyright infringement on a massive scale through its AI image generator tech. In the lawsuit, which
[22]
Disney, Universal launch first major studio lawsuit against AI company
Entertainment giants Disney and Universal filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Wednesday against AI company Midjourney, calling the image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism." The lawsuit is the first major legal battle between Hollywood studios and an AI firm, and follows other suits by
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Mickey & Minions vs Midjourney: Creators sue over turning characters into AI slop
In an unlikely corporate alliance, Disney and Universal are suing Midjourney for turning iconic characters like Yoda, Shrek and Iron Man into hundreds of thousands of AI-generated graphics without permission or payment. Disney and Universal Pictures are taking AI startup Midjourney to court,
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How the Disney-Midjourney Suit Could Reshape AI Copyright Law
On Wednesday, the long-simmering dispute between Hollywood and the AI industry escalated dramatically when Disney and Universal sued Midjourney, one of the most prominent AI image generators, for copyright infringement. The two Hollywood heavyweight studios argue that Midjourney allows its users to
[25]
Disney, Universal, DreamWorks Sue Midjourney, Call It a 'Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism' - Decrypt
The case highlights a growing wave of copyright suits targeting generative AI tools. Disney and Universal, along with several other American film studios, have filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company Midjourney, alleging that its popular image generation tool systematically
[26]
Disney and Universal sue AI image company Midjourney for unlicensed use of Star Wars, The Simpsons and more
Disney and Universal joined forces in a lawsuit against artificial intelligence image creator Midjourney, alleging copyright infringement, according to court filings. It is the first AI copyright lawsuit from Hollywood giants. The lawsuit claims that the company used and distributed AI-generated
[27]
Disney, Universal launch first major studio lawsuit against AI company
Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) - Entertainment giants Disney and Universal filed a copyright infringement lawsuit Wednesday against AI company Midjourney, calling the image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism." The lawsuit is the first major legal battle between Hollywood studios and an
[28]
'A bottomless pit of plagiarism': Disney and Universal sue AI image generator Midjourney for copyright infringement
This isn't the first time Midjourney has been sued, but it may be the one that matters. AI image generator Midjourney could be facing some serious legal headaches, as The Verge reports that the company is being sued by Hollywood powerhouses Disney and Universal, who say the company's unauthorized
[29]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
The two Hollywood studios called Midjourney a "bottomless pit of plagiarism". Disney and Universal sued popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday. This is the first time major Hollywood companies have taken legal action against a maker of generative AI technology
[30]
Disney and NBC Universal take 'copyright free-rider' Midjourney to court over alleged plagiarism - SiliconANGLE
Disney and NBC Universal take 'copyright free-rider' Midjourney to court over alleged plagiarism The Walt Disney Co. and NBC Universal Media LLC today announced they have joined forces in a lawsuit against artificial intelligence image creator Midjourney Inc., the lawsuit calling the company a
[31]
Disney and Universal suing Midjourney for AI copyright infringement
The lawsuit refers to Midjourney as a "quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism". Media giants Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against GenAI company Midjourney alleging the unauthorised copying of the studios' copyrighted work. The complaint states that
[32]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney over copyright infringement
Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims
[33]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
NEW YORK (AP) -- Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the
[34]
Disney, Universal jump into legal battle over AI
LOS ANGELES -- Disney and Universal sued a prominent artificial intelligence startup for copyright infringement Wednesday, bringing Hollywood belatedly into the increasingly intense battle over generative AI. The movie companies sued Midjourney, an AI image generator that has tens of millions of
[35]
Disney, Universal sue Midjourney -- 'bottomless pit of plagiarism'
Disney said it filed the complaint after its request to Midjourney to adopt anti-copyright infringement measures was ignored. Disney and Universal have sued artificial intelligence firm Midjourney for copyright infringement over its AI-powered image generator. In a legal complaint filed in Los
[36]
Disney and Universal sue Midjourney, says AI firm is a 'bottomless pit of plagiarism'
Two of the biggest studios in Hollywood, Disney and Universal, are suing Midjourney and its AI platform for image generation for copyright infringement. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to
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Midjourney accused of 'Bottomless Plagiarism' in landmark AI lawsuit by Disney and Universal
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you. A lawsuit filed in a California district court by Disney and NBCUniversal has claimed that the popular generative artificial intelligence program
[38]
Disney, Universal Sue Image Creator Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Walt Disney and Comcast's Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the studios' best-known characters. The suit, filed in federal district court in Los
[39]
Two Hollywood Giants Sue AI Image Engine Midjourney Calling It A 'Bottomless Pit Of Plagiarism'
Disney and NBCUniversal are going after Midjourney, a generative-AI tool trained on internet data that can be used to make everything from silly memes to short films made entirely of AI slop. The two Hollywood companies filed a lawsuit against the self-funded startup in Federal Court on Tuesday "to
[40]
Disney and Universal Sue AI Firm Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
NEW YORK (AP) -- Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the
[41]
Disney, Universal Sue AI Image Creator Over Alleged Copyright Infringement
A former Senior Publishing Editor on the Dow Jones Newswires team at The Wall Street Journal, Aaron earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University. Entertainment giants and rivals Disney (DIS) and Universal have teamed
[42]
'Bottomless Pit of Plagiarism': Disney, Universal File the First Major Hollywood Lawsuit Against an AI Startup
In a 110-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Disney and Universal accuse Midjourney of copying famous characters from their copyrighted works. The movie studios state that they have sent "cease and desist" letters to Midjourney's counsel to ask the startup to
[43]
Disney, Universal Sue Image Creator Midjourney for Copyright Infringement
The image generator recreated characters from Universal Studios, Disney Walt Disney and Comcast's Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the studios' best-known
[44]
Disney and Universal call AI "bottomless pit of plagiarism" in lawsuit against Midjourney
Midjourney's founder previously said the company's AI tools were trained on "a big scrape of the internet" Disney and Universal are teaming up to sue AI company Midjourney in a lawsuit that calls its AI generation tools a "bottomless pit of plagiarism," as reported by Reuters. Midjourney's tools
[45]
Disney, Universal Slam AI Company As 'Bottomless Pit Of Plagiarism' In Scathing Lawsuit
The companies said Midjourney's "bootlegging business model" is an attack on "the hard-working creative community that brings the magic of movies to life." Disney and NBCUniversal joined forces in the first lawsuit of its kind against the artificial intelligence image company Midjourney on
[46]
Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
Walt Disney and Comcast's Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the studios' best-known characters. The suit, filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, claims
[47]
Hollywood Vs AI: What is Midjourney? Here's all details about Disney and NBCUniversal suit against AI firm over copyright infringement
Disney and NBCUniversal have filed a copyright lawsuit against AI firm Midjourney. They claim the AI tool creates and distributes images based on their characters without permission. The companies argue the use of their work has brought profit to Midjourney. The case was filed in a federal court in
[48]
Disney, Universal Studios Sue AI-Image Generator Midjourney For Copyright Infringement - Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
Walt Disney Co. DIS and Comcast Corp.'s CMCSA Universal Studios on Wednesday filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney, an AI-powered image generation service. What Happened: The companies submitted the lawsuit in a federal court in Los Angeles and accused Midjourney of unauthorized use and
[49]
Disney and Universal are taking on Midjourney over AI piracy claims
It looks like all those fan-created AI videos might soon be coming to an end. One of the more high-profile ways that people are using artificial intelligence these days is to create unofficial versions of existing and copyrighted characters and events. One of the big current ones is seeing comedic
[50]
Hollywood Showdown Begins: Disney And Universal Sue $300M AI Startup Midjourney For 'Bottomless Pit Of Plagiarism' In Blockbuster Case - Getty Images Holdings (NYSE:GETY), Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
Disney DIS and Universal, the powerhouse studios behind Star Wars, Frozen, and Kung Fu Panda, have filed a major copyright lawsuit involving an AI startup, described by Entrepreneur as a potential first for Hollywood. The case targets Midjourney, a text-to-image generator that allegedly enabled
[51]
Disney, Universal sue AI image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
Mickey Mouse at the Mickey's 90th Spectacular Taping at the Shrine Auditorium on October 6, 2018 Walt Disney and Comcast's Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the
[52]
Disney, Universal Launch AI Legal Battle, Sue Midjourney Over Copyright Claims
CNN Chief Operating Officer Heads Back to Warner Bros. Discovery In the next chapter of Big Entertainment vs. Big Tech, Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against AI company Midjourney over tools that allow users to create images and videos that can manipulate its famous characters at the
[53]
Disney and Universal's lawsuit against Midjourney could shape the future of AI art
So Hollywood is finally making a move to try to protect intellectual property from generative AI. Disney and Universal have together filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, the company behind one of the most popular AI image generators, over rip offs of characters and art styles from the likes of The
[54]
Midjourney Sued for Using Disney, Universal Content for AI Images
Disney and Universal Studios have filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the US District Court of California against Midjourney, a generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) company that allows users to create images, according to the complaint document seen by NPR. The two motion picture
[55]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
NEW YORK -- Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have entered the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the
[56]
Disney, Universal sue AI firm for copyright infringement: 'Bottomless...
Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims
[57]
Major Movie Studios File Landmark Copyright Lawsuit Against AI Company
'Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism,' the suit says. The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal have jointly filed a groundbreaking copyright infringement lawsuit against artificial intelligence image-generation company Midjourney, saying its
[58]
Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement | BreakingNews.ie
Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims Midjourney
[59]
Disney and Universal Sue Midjourney Over AI-Generated Copyright Infringements
Disney and Universal sued Midjourney, alleging that the artificial-intelligence company's image-generating service produces unauthorized copies of the studios' copyrighted works. The studios described Midjourney's infringement as calculated and willful, according to the complaint, which said that
[60]
Disney, Universal sue image creator Midjourney for copyright infringement
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Walt Disney and Comcast's Universal filed a copyright lawsuit against Midjourney on Wednesday, calling its popular AI-powered image generator a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" for its use of the studios' best-known characters. The suit, filed in federal district court in Los
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Disney and NBCUniversal have filed a landmark lawsuit against AI image-synthesis company Midjourney, accusing it of copyright infringement for allowing users to create images of copyrighted characters like Darth Vader and Shrek.
Hollywood Giants Take Legal Action Against AI Image Generator
In a groundbreaking move, Disney and NBCUniversal have filed a lawsuit against Midjourney, a San Francisco-based AI image-synthesis company, accusing it of copyright infringement
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. The complaint, filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, marks the first major legal action by Hollywood studios against a generative AI company, potentially setting a precedent for future cases in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and copyright law3
.The Allegations
Source: Mashable
The lawsuit describes Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that enables users to generate what the studios call "AI slop" - personalized images of copyrighted characters
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. The studios claim that Midjourney used "bots, scrapers, streamrippers, video downloaders, and web crawlers" to download copyrighted content from the internet to train its AI model1
.The complaint includes dozens of visual examples showing Midjourney's outputs alongside the original copyrighted characters. Users can reportedly generate high-quality, downloadable images of characters like Darth Vader, Yoda, Wall-E, Stormtroopers, Minions, and characters from How to Train Your Dragon by simply typing prompts
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Source: The Verge
Legal Implications and Fair Use Doctrine
IP lawyer Chad Hummel sees the compilation of images in the complaint as compelling evidence that "the output is not sufficiently transformative"
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. This could make it difficult for Midjourney to argue for protection under the "fair use" doctrine, which allows for use of copyrighted works in certain circumstances.Matthew Sag, a professor of law and artificial intelligence at Emory University, believes Midjourney will have a harder time making a fair use case than previous AI defendants. He states, "It's going to be very difficult for a court or a jury to accept that it is transformative to take 1,000 pictures of Darth Vader and use them to produce even more pictures of Darth Vader"
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.Industry Response and Potential Impact
The lawsuit has been welcomed by some in the creative industry. Ed Newton-Rex at Fairly Trained, a non-profit organization that promotes fairer training practices for AI companies, called it "a great day for creators around the world"
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.Legal experts suggest that this case could have significant implications for the AI industry. Andres Guadamuz from the University of Sussex believes that this lawsuit is a message to larger AI players to implement stronger filters or face similar legal challenges
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.Related Stories
Midjourney's Position and Industry Practices
Source: PC Magazine
Midjourney, like many other generative AI startups, trained its tools by scraping the internet to create large datasets of images, rather than seeking out specific licenses. In a 2022 interview, CEO David Holz openly discussed this process, stating, "It's just a big scrape of the internet. We use the open data sets that are published and train across those"
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.The Road Ahead
As the case unfolds, it will likely have far-reaching implications for the AI industry, copyright law, and the future of creative work. Disney's general counsel, Horacio Gutierrez, stated, "We are bullish on the promise of AI technology and optimistic about how it can be used responsibly as a tool to further human creativity. But piracy is piracy, and the fact that it's done by an AI company does not make it any less infringing"
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