Walt Disney Co., Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery continued on Tuesday a Chinese artificial intelligence company called Minimax for copyright violation, alleging that its IA service generates emblematic characters, notably Dark Vader, Les Minions and Wonder Woman without the permission of the studios.
“The minimax smuggling business model and the distrust of the American copyright law is not only an attack on complainants and the creative community that works hard that gives life to the magic of films, but also constitutes a wider threat to the American cinema industry,” said companies in their complaint, filed before the American district court in Los Angeles.
Entertainment companies have requested that Minimax be retained from the additional violation. They require damages that can go up to $ 150,000 per raped work, as well as lawyer costs and costs.
This is the last series of copyright proceedings that major studios have brought against AI societies concerning intellectual property problems. In June, Disney and Universal Pictures continued the Midjourney AI firm for copyright violation. Earlier this month, Warner Bros. Discovery also continued Midjourney.
Minimax, based in Shanghai, has a service called Hailuo AI, which is marketed as a “Hollywood studio in your pocket” and used characters, including the Joker and Groot in its ads without the authorization of the studios, said the studios. Users can enter a text prompt asking for the emblematic “Star Wars” “Yoda or DC comics’ Superman, and Hailuo AI can draw high quality and downloadable images or a character’s video, depending on the document.
“Minimax completely ignores us the law on copyright and treats the precious characters protected by applicants and his,” said the trial. “The violation of the copyright of Minimax is deliberate and cheeky.”
“Given the rapid progress of technology in the field of generation of AI videos … This is only a matter of time until Hailuo AI can generate unauthorized and infiltrated videos starring characters protected by the copyright of the applicants who are considerably longer, and even ultimately the same duration as a film or television program,” said the trial.
Minimax did not immediately return a comment request.
Hollywood is struggling with significant challenges, including the threat of AI, while businesses consolidate and reduce their expenses as production costs increase. Many actors and writers, who always recovered from strikes that took place in 2023, rushed to find jobs. Some believe that AI growth has threatened its livelihoods because technological tools can reproduce emblematic characters with text prompts.
While some studios have continued AI companies, others are looking for ways to associate with them. For example, Lionsgate has teamed up with AI Startup Runway to help you with backstage processes such as storyboard.
