Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. are suing Chinese AI startup MiniMax for alleged copyright infringement. The media giants claim MiniMax's AI models pirate their intellectual property. MiniMax, valued at approximately $3 billion, operates generative AI apps like Hailuo AI, a video and image editor, and Talkie, a chatbot.
The lawsuit alleges MiniMax disregards U.S. copyright law, treating copyrighted characters as its own. Hailuo AI purportedly offers users infringing images and videos featuring the studios' famous characters. The plaintiffs accuse MiniMax of building its business on stolen intellectual property, marketing Hailuo AI as a 'Hollywood studio in your pocket'.
The entertainment companies assert they support innovation that enhances human creativity while protecting creators' contributions. The lawsuit marks the first time major U.S. entertainment companies have targeted a Chinese AI company. MiniMax already has technological measures in place to prevent the distribution of certain images and video such as violence or nudity.
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