The legal dispute between Midjourney and some of Hollywood’s biggest film studios has intensified as the AI image-generation company seeks greater transparency over how major entertainment companies use artificial intelligence in their own operations.

The latest court filing comes amid an ongoing copyright lawsuit involving Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros., all of which accuse Midjourney of using copyrighted material to train its AI models and generate images featuring protected characters and creative works without authorization.

Midjourney Seeks AI-Related Documents

According to a report by Variety, Midjourney’s legal team has asked the court to require the three studios to disclose detailed information about their own use of generative AI technologies.

The request follows a court decision issued in June that limited Midjourney’s access to internal documents related to the studios’ AI projects.

Through the new motion, Midjourney is seeking a broad range of materials, including:

• AI training datasets.
• Business strategies involving generative AI.
• Internal presentations discussing AI initiatives.
• Documents outlining future AI development plans.

The company argues that these materials are directly relevant to its legal defense.

Fair Use at the Center of the Case

Midjourney’s attorney, Bobby Ghajar, stated that evidence showing how the studios develop and use AI technologies could strengthen the company’s legal arguments, particularly its fair use defense.

According to the defense, if the studios themselves rely on similar AI training methods, that information could influence how the court evaluates claims regarding copyright infringement and industry practices.

Ghajar also noted that while the studios have agreed to provide certain documents related to consumer-facing products, they have declined to disclose information about internal AI tools and development projects.

Hollywood Rejects Midjourney’s Arguments

The three studios strongly oppose Midjourney’s request.

Attorney David Singer, representing the plaintiffs, argued that the lawsuit is not intended to prevent artificial intelligence innovation but rather to stop what the studios describe as unauthorized copying of copyrighted films, television shows, and well-known fictional characters.

According to the plaintiffs, copyright protection applies regardless of whether the alleged infringement is carried out by AI systems or traditional technologies.

Hollywood Continues Investing in AI

Despite the legal conflict, Hollywood studios continue expanding their investments in artificial intelligence.

In late 2025, Disney announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI as part of a project intended to make hundreds of Disney characters available through AI-powered video generation technology. Although that initiative was later discontinued, Disney has maintained that it will continue working with AI platforms while respecting intellectual property rights and creators’ interests.

Meanwhile, partnerships between entertainment companies and AI developers continue to grow.

One of the most notable collaborations involves Runway and Lionsgate, which announced a partnership to develop a custom AI model trained on Lionsgate’s film and television library. The technology is designed to support various stages of production, including storyboarding, visual planning, and visual effects, with the collaboration expanding further throughout 2026.

Vexiora Analysis

The legal battle between Midjourney and Hollywood reflects one of the most significant challenges facing the AI industry today: balancing technological innovation with intellectual property protection. As generative AI becomes increasingly integrated into creative industries, courts may play a defining role in establishing how copyrighted content can be used for AI training.

At the same time, the case highlights an apparent contradiction within the entertainment industry. While major studios pursue legal action against AI companies over copyright concerns, many are simultaneously investing heavily in AI technologies for content creation and production. The outcome of this dispute could influence future partnerships, licensing agreements, and copyright regulations across the global AI ecosystem.