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Cases and enforcement · Ongoing

Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc., No. 2:25-cv-05275 (C.D. Cal.)

Verified Checked against its sources on 3 sources quoted

Where
California, United States
Court or authority
US – C.D. Cal.
Status
In discovery (lead case, consolidated with Warner Bros. v. Midjourney); further discovery conference set for October 19, 2026
Filed
June 11, 2025
Case type
Copyright
Plaintiffs or complainants
Universal City Studios Productions LLLP, MVL Film Finance LLC, DreamWorks Animation L.L.C., Marvel Characters Inc., Disney Enterprises Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Defendants
Midjourney Inc.
Legal issues
Copyright Infringement, Fair Use, AI-generated content ownership

Summary

Disney, Universal and affiliated studios (Marvel, Lucasfilm, DreamWorks Animation, Twentieth Century Fox) sued Midjourney on June 11, 2025, alleging that its image generator reproduces their copyrighted characters, such as Darth Vader and Elsa, and calling it a bottomless pit of plagiarism. Midjourney answered in August 2025. In November 2025 the court consolidated Warner Bros.' later suit into this case as the lead case. As of October 2026 the parties are in discovery, including disputes over document production and training-data production. The claims are allegations.

Key dates

  1. June 11, 2025Filed
  2. October 16, 2026Checked against sources
  3. October 21, 2026Checked against sources

Developments are added when the record is reviewed. Next review: January 15, 2027.

Evidence

Each passage is quoted from its source. The quoted passages are re-checked against the live pages every month.

  1. Disney and Universal are suing artificial intelligence (AI) firm Midjourney over its image generator, which the Hollywood giants allege is a "bottomless pit of plagiarism".

    Supports: Plaintiffs, defendant, allegation

    Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney BBC News Reporting or analysis

  2. Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc., 2:25-cv-05275, (C.D. Cal.) Date Filed: June 11, 2025

    Supports: Parties, court, docket number, filing date; docket also shows the answer (August 6, 2025) and consolidation (November 4, 2025)

    Docket, Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc., No. 2:25-cv-05275 (C.D. Cal.) CourtListener (RECAP docket) Primary source

  3. The purpose of this next Informal Discovery Conference is to resolve outstanding written discovery disputes, primarily focused on completing document productions, with the goal of beginning depositions.

    Supports: Discovery stage as of October 13, 2026

    Docket (newest first), Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc., No. 2:25-cv-05275 CourtListener (RECAP docket) Primary source

Suggested citation. Eminence Scan, “Disney Enterprises Inc. v. Midjourney Inc., No. 2:25-cv-05275 (C.D. Cal.)”, Eminence Growth Solutions, last verified October 16, 2026, https://eminencegrowthsolutions.com/tools/eminence-scan/record/case-007/.

Using our research: you may read and quote Eminence Scan with credit to “Eminence Scan, Eminence Growth Solutions” and a link; all other rights reserved. Terms: Using our research.

Spotted an error, or a development we have missed? Report a correction. How we check records: research methodology.