Major Hollywood Studios File Copyright Lawsuit Against China’s MiniMax Over AI Service
“Major Hollywood studios sue MiniMax over AI copyright infringement”
Leading Hollywood studios Walt Disney, Comcast’s Universal, and Warner Bros Discovery have jointly initiated a copyright infringement lawsuit against China-based AI company MiniMax. The legal action concerns MiniMax’s image- and video-generating service, Hailuo AI, which the studios allege was developed using stolen intellectual property from their iconic copyrighted works.
Allegations of Intellectual Property Theft
The lawsuit, filed in a California district court, accuses MiniMax of “audaciously” exploiting the studios’ famous copyrighted characters without authorization. According to the complaint, the Hailuo AI service allows subscribers to generate downloadable images and videos featuring renowned characters such as Darth Vader from Star Wars, Minions from Despicable Me, and Wonder Woman — all bearing MiniMax’s own branding. The studios argue that MiniMax employed these well-known characters to aggressively market Hailuo AI as a “Hollywood studio in your pocket,” thereby misleading consumers and infringing upon their intellectual property rights.
Failure to Address Infringement Concerns
The complaint further asserts that MiniMax ignored repeated requests from the studios to implement reasonable measures to prevent copyright infringement—practices already standard in several AI platforms. By disregarding U.S. copyright law, MiniMax is accused of actively encouraging infringement and treating the studios’ valuable copyrighted properties as if they were its own. In a joint statement, the companies emphasized the importance of responsible AI innovation, underscoring their commitment to holding violators accountable irrespective of geographical location.
Legal Demands and Industry Context
The studios seek financial redress in the form of any profits or gains MiniMax earned through the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted content. Additionally, they are requesting a court order to halt the infringement and bar MiniMax from offering the Hailuo AI service without the necessary copyright protections in place. This lawsuit follows a similar legal dispute filed in June by Disney and Universal against Midjourney, another AI service accused of unauthorized commercial use of copyrighted material. Warner Bros Discovery has also initiated separate proceedings against Midjourney, echoing allegations of copyright violations.
Broader Implications in the AI Landscape
These lawsuits are part of a broader wave of litigation initiated by copyright holders—including authors, news organizations, and music labels—against various technology companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic. The central issue revolves around the unauthorized use of copyrighted content in training AI models, raising complex legal and ethical questions about intellectual property in the age of artificial intelligence.
Profile of MiniMax and Market Impact
MiniMax operates on a subscription-based model and is reportedly aiming for a valuation exceeding $4 billion. It is one of the first Chinese AI companies seeking a public listing. According to its official website, MiniMax’s models and products serve over 157 million individual users across more than 200 countries and regions, alongside more than 50,000 enterprises and developers in over 90 countries. The outcome of this lawsuit could set significant precedents for the rapidly evolving intersection of AI innovation and intellectual property law, impacting both industry practices and regulatory approaches worldwide.
As artificial intelligence technologies continue to advance, the balance between fostering innovation and protecting creative rights remains a critical challenge. The legal actions taken by these major Hollywood studios against MiniMax underscore the urgency of establishing clear guidelines and responsible frameworks to govern AI development and its use of copyrighted materials.