As part of an ongoing legal dispute with three Hollywood studios, AI startup Midjourney is seeking to compel those studios to reveal how they use AI themselves.
The current dispute revolves around the documentation the studios will need to produce during the discovery process. A judge previously ruled that the studios would indeed have to provide information about their generative AI usage – but only when it led to “consumer-facing” videos and images.
In its latest filing, Midjourney seeks to overturn that limitation, arguing that it “unfairly” allows the studios “to cherry-pick only those documents they believe support their market harm claims while depriving Midjourney of documents that would support its defenses.”
Midjourney goes on to claim that the “documents [the studios] are withholding are precisely those that would reveal whether, behind closed doors, they are doing exactly what they are suing Midjourney for doing.” For example, the startup says that if the studios are developing image-generating AI models “for internal use in storyboarding or ideating content for film or TV, that evidence would equally demonstrate that it is an industry custom, even among the studios themselves, to download and train AI on unlicensed copyrighted content.”
The studios’ lead attorney David Singer previously claimed Midjourney was seeking this documentation as part of a “fishing expedition.” He also said the studios “do not seek to stop AI technology or even shut down Midjourney’s business,” but rather “simply want Midjourney to stop copying their movies and TV shows and to stop distributing, publicly displaying, publicly performing, and creating derivative works that include copies of [their] famous characters without authorization.”
This development comes as the ongoing copyright dispute between Midjourney and the Hollywood studios continues to unfold. The case has sparked debate about the use of AI in content creation and the boundaries of copyright law.
**The Implications of Disclosure**
If the judge rules in favor of Midjourney, it could set a precedent for the disclosure of AI usage by other companies in the industry. This could lead to a more transparent understanding of how AI is being used in content creation and potentially challenge the current copyright laws.
**The Response from the Studios**
The studios have maintained that they are not seeking to suppress AI technology, but rather to protect their intellectual property rights. They argue that Midjourney’s use of AI to generate images and videos without permission is a violation of their copyrights.
**The Next Steps**
The case will continue to unfold in the coming weeks as the judge considers Midjourney’s request for disclosure. The outcome could have significant implications for the use of AI in content creation and the boundaries of copyright law.
In conclusion, the ongoing copyright dispute between Midjourney and the Hollywood studios highlights the complexities of AI usage in content creation and the need for greater transparency and understanding of the industry’s practices.
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