Disney, Warner Bros sue MiniMax over AI-generated videos using copyrighted characters like Spider-Man, Darth Vader and Minions without permission

Disney, Warner Bros sue MiniMax in a landmark US copyright lawsuit accusing the Chinese AI firm of systematically stealing copyrighted characters to power its image and video generation tools.

Also read: Joel Kachi Benson’s Emmy win celebrates powerful Nigerian storytelling

Filed in a Los Angeles federal court, the complaint alleges that MiniMax’s Hailuo AI service enables users to generate high-quality videos of iconic characters such as Spider-Man, Batman, Darth Vader, and the Minions—all without authorisation.

The 119-page lawsuit, jointly brought by Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal Pictures, claims MiniMax is running a “bootlegging business model” that blatantly violates US copyright law.

The studios are demanding monetary damages, including profits earned by MiniMax through the alleged infringement and statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work.

They also seek a permanent injunction to block MiniMax from using any of their copyrighted content.

MiniMax, reportedly valued at $4 billion in 2025 after an $850 million funding round, did not respond to the studios’ cease-and-desist letter, nor has it taken any visible steps to halt the alleged infringements.

“MiniMax pirates and plunders Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works on a massive scale,” the suit declares.

Users can type in prompts like “Darth Vader walking around the Death Star” and receive realistic videos of copyrighted characters rendered by the AI.

The lawsuit marks the first time major US studios have filed against a Chinese AI company for copyright infringement, coming just months after a similar action against California-based AI firm Midjourney.

Legal experts say the case could set a major precedent in how generative AI models are held accountable for scraping and reproducing protected content.

The plaintiffs argue that MiniMax has wilfully chosen not to implement copyright safeguards, despite clear examples from other AI platforms that show such protections are technically feasible.

The case comes amid growing scrutiny over how AI companies source and train their models using copyrighted material, with increasing pressure from global rights holders for regulatory oversight.

Also read: Joel Kachi Benson’s Emmy win celebrates powerful Nigerian storytelling

With billions of dollars and the future of AI-generated content at stake, the entertainment giants are sending a clear message: copyright law still applies, even in the age of artificial intelligence.