Copyright Battles Heat Up Over AI Training and Characters

Two new lawsuits are putting artificial intelligence in the middle of copyright law’s biggest questions. Anthropic, maker of the Claude chatbot, is offering a multi-billion-dollar settlement to authors who claim their books were used without permission to train AI models. At the same time, Warner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney over AI-generated images that allegedly copy iconic characters like Batman and Superman.

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ChaseLawyers Newsletter
September 09, 2025

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This issue spotlights two pivotal copyright disputes shaping the future of generative AI. First, Anthropic’s proposed $1.5 billion settlement with authors over allegedly pirated books raises tough questions about transparency and fair compensation. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery is taking Midjourney to court for producing nearly identical images of iconic characters—potentially setting a precedent for the limits of AI creativity.

Anthropic’s $1.5 B Settlement Faces Judicial Scrutiny

Anthropic, the AI developer behind the Claude chatbot, has offered a historic $1.5 billion settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit from authors who claim the company trained its AI using pirated books—about 500,000 works at ~$3,000 per title. The deal avoids trial but faces pushback: U.S. District Judge William Alsup criticized the agreement as inadequately detailed and potentially coercive, calling for clearer disclosure on which books are covered and how authors can file claims. Proceedings continue through mid-September, with new deadlines for settlement documentation and a hearing scheduled late that month.

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues AI for Copyrighted Character Replication

Warner Bros. Discovery has filed suit against AI image generator Midjourney, alleging that the technology produces unauthorized images of their copyright-protected characters—Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and more. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, claims Midjourney’s output constitutes “countless” infringing images and seeks damages plus "injunctive relief" to curb such unauthorized reproductions. By joining earlier suits filed by Disney and Universal, Warner Bros. strengthens the emerging coalition challenging AI platforms over IP misuse.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AI Giant Anthropic to Pay $1.5 Billion to Authors in Landmark Settlement

A federal judge has flagged concerns about the fairness and transparency of Anthropic’s $1.5 billion settlement with authors, demanding a more robust process before final approval.

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues AI Giant Midjourney for Copyright Infringement In Major Legal Battle

Warner Bros. has joined Disney and Universal in suing Midjourney, accusing the AI generator of producing near-identical images of major characters—raising red flags about the future of AI-generated visual content.

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