On September 16, 2025, Disney, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros Discovery filed a major copyright lawsuit against Chinese artificial intelligence company MiniMax in a California court.
The case centers on MiniMax’s AI platform, Hailuo AI, which allegedly uses protected material from the studios to generate images and videos without permission.
Alleged Use of Iconic Characters
According to the lawsuit, MiniMax markets Hailuo AI as a “Hollywood studio in your pocket.” The tool reportedly allows users to create content featuring famous characters such as Darth Vader from Star Wars, the Minions from Despicable Me, and Wonder Woman.
These creations allegedly carry MiniMax branding even though the characters are copyrighted by the studios.
Studios Say Copyright Rules Were Ignored
The three studios claim they repeatedly asked MiniMax to add safeguards against copyright infringement—requests the company allegedly ignored.
As a result, they argue, MiniMax has violated U.S. copyright laws and treated valuable entertainment properties as public domain.
Call for Responsible AI Innovation
In a joint statement, Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros stressed that the lawsuit is about protecting intellectual property and ensuring ethical AI practices.
“We support responsible AI development. This action demonstrates our commitment to holding copyright violators accountable, wherever they are based,” the studios said.
The case seeks to block MiniMax’s alleged misuse of studio content and enforce stronger copyright protections.
Part of a Broader Legal Trend
This lawsuit follows a series of similar actions. In June 2025, Disney and Universal sued Midjourney, and Warner Bros Discovery filed another claim this month.
In addition, authors, news outlets, and music labels have launched lawsuits against AI companies such as OpenAI, Microsoft, and Anthropic over unlicensed use of content.
MiniMax’s Expanding Global Footprint
MiniMax operates a subscription-based service with over 157 million users in 200 countries and 50,000 businesses in more than 90 nations.
The company is now targeting a valuation above $4 billion and preparing for a public listing, positioning itself as one of China’s leading AI firms.
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