Disney, Universal and Warner launch copyright suit against MiniMax

Disney, Universal and Warner Bros Discovery have jointly filed a lawsuit against the Chinese creator of a popular artificial intelligence video app over what they claim is “wilful and brazen” copyright infringement, reports the Financial Times. The suit against MiniMax, which owns Hailuo AI, a video generator that markets itself as “Hollywood studio in your pocket,” is the first of its kind against a Chinese AI company.

The studios argue the service is a threat to the US motion picture industry and are seeking the “maximum amount allowable by law,” according to a person familiar with the situation.

The lawsuit includes several screenshots of MiniMax advertisements that feature some of the studios’ best-known characters, including Disney-owned Darth Vader and Universal’s Minions. The images bear MiniMax Hailuo branding.