In a notable escalation of legal tensions surrounding AI-generated content, a collective of visual artists has fortified their copyright infringement lawsuit against leading AI firms. The group, now joined by seven additional creators including H. Southworth and Grzegorz Rutkowski, asserts that their unique artistic styles have been unlawfully replicated by users employing AI tools with prompts containing the artists’ names.
The updated legal challenge, which now implicates Runway AI alongside Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt, centers on the alleged production of artworks that bear a striking resemblance to the original pieces crafted by the plaintiffs. The artists’ stance is firm: the AI-generated images are not just inspired by their styles but are virtually “indistinguishable” from their authentic creations.
Midjourney, a platform boasting a substantial user base of 16.4 million, is further accused of infringing federal trademark laws. The contention arises from the platform’s promotion of a vast array of artists’ names, including those of the plaintiffs, as suggested prompts for generating art, a practice the lawsuit deems as a direct violation of the artists’ rights.
This case, previously dismissed due to insufficient evidence but now revitalized with new testimonials and parties, signals a growing concern among creative professionals. The plaintiffs’ message is clear: without legal intervention, the integrity of artistic copyright faces a bleak future. As the legal proceedings gain momentum, the creative community watches on, wary of the precedent this case might set for copyright law in the digital age.
