- Visual artists sued AI art companies alleging copyright violations for systems creating art mimicking their styles. Lawsuit includes new evidence and plaintiffs.
- Artists claim AI tools can now produce works indistinguishable from theirs just by prompting with their names. They argue AI artworks infringe copyrights and enable customers to benefit without paying artists.
- Midjourney also accused of violating trademarks by promoting artists’ names as prompts. Artists hope amended lawsuit with more details will now move forward after previous dismissal.
A group of visual artists recently amended their copyright lawsuit against AI art companies Stability AI, Midjourney, DeviantArt, and Runway AI. The artists claim these companies have violated their rights by creating AI systems that can generate art mimicking their styles.
New Evidence Presented
The amended lawsuit includes seven new plaintiff artists: H Southworth, Grzegorz Rutkowski, Gregory Manchess, Gerald Brom, Jingna Zhang, Julia Kaye, and Adam Ellis. The plaintiffs claim AI tools can now produce artworks indistinguishable from their own just by prompting the systems with the artists’ names.
Artists Allege Copyright Violations
The artists allege the AI companies have violated copyright laws by enabling users to generate artworks imitating the plaintiffs’ unique styles. They argue the AI image products are primarily valued as “copyright-laundering devices” allowing customers to benefit from artists’ creations without paying them.
Midjourney Also Accused of Trademark Violations
The lawsuit further claims Midjourney has violated federal trademark laws by promoting a list of artists’ names, including some plaintiffs, to use as AI prompts on its site. For example, plaintiff Kelly McKernan found AI art prompted by their name now dominates top search results.
While parts of this lawsuit were previously dismissed by a U.S. judge citing insufficient evidence, the recent amended filing provides more details about the alleged copyright and trademark infringements. The artists hope this will enable the case to move forward.
AI Companies Face Multiple Lawsuits
This amended lawsuit is just one of many legal challenges AI creators now face over copyright issues. Other tech giants like Google, Microsoft and Meta also face lawsuits for their AI art tools. The legal battles illuminate the complex IP issues as AI transforms creative industries.
The clash between artists and AI companies is likely to intensify as generative AI becomes more advanced. This high-stakes lawsuit will be a critical test case for determining copyright protections in the age of creative AI. The outcome could have lasting impacts on artists’ rights and the ethics of AI development.
