AI startup Midjourney is asking a court to require three major Hollywood studios to disclose more about how they use generative AI in their own workflows. The request comes amid an ongoing copyright dispute centered on whether AI systems can be trained on copyrighted material under fair use.
The studios -- Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. -- previously accused Midjourney of enabling image generation that can reproduce well-known characters. Midjourney now argues that the studios should also reveal their own internal AI practices, especially if they use similar tools for storyboarding, concept development, or other production tasks.
In its latest filing, the company says the current discovery limits are too narrow and may allow the studios to present only the material that supports their claims. Midjourney wants access to broader documentation, including prompts and outputs tied to the studios' use of its platform, not just examples that appear to be infringing.
The startup's position is that if studios are experimenting with image-generation systems behind the scenes, that could show AI has already become a standard creative instrument across the industry. The studios' legal team, meanwhile, has described the request as overly broad and says the core issue is preventing unauthorized copying of films, shows, and signature characters.
Beyond the courtroom, the case highlights a larger shift in entertainment: AI is moving from a speculative tool to a practical part of creative production. The outcome could help define how studios, artists, and AI companies share the future of digital storytelling.