U.S. District Court, C.D. California · Docket 2:25-cv-05275
Active Litigation
Latest development · August 10, 2026
NOTICE OF LODGING filed re Statistical Sampling Protocol for Production of Private Subscriber Prompts and Outputs Order [152-1] re Notice of Lodging, 152 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Re Production of Public Subscriber Prompts and Outputs)(Singer, David) (Entered: 08/10/2026)
The studios allege Midjourney generates infringing images of protected characters on demand and trained on their catalogs. The first major Hollywood-studio strike at an image generator, framed around output substantial similarity rather than training alone.
Moves the battleground from training inputs to outputs that reproduce famous characters, the theory most likely to resonate with juries and to reach video models next.
Film and animation characters and stills
TRANSCRIPT ORDER as to Defendant Midjourney Inc. for Court Smart (CS). Court will contact Linda Lozano at llozano@cooley.com with further instructions regarding this order. Transcript preparation will not begin until payment has been satisfied with the transcription company. (Ghajar, Bobby) (Entered Docket #149 →
TRANSCRIPT ORDER as to Defendant Midjourney Inc. for Court Smart (CS). Court will contact Linda Lozano at llozano@cooley.com with further instructions regarding this order. Transcript preparation will not begin until payment has been satisfied with the transcription company. (Ghajar, Bobby) (Entered Docket #150 →
TRANSCRIPT ORDER as to Plaintiffs DC Comics, Disney Enterprises Inc., DreamWorks Animation L.L.C., Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, MVL Film Finance LLC, Marvel Characters Inc., The Cartoon Network, Inc., Turner Entertainment Co., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Universal Docket #151 →
NOTICE OF LODGING filed re Order on Motion for Order re Discovery Matter,, Discovery Hearing, 61 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Re Statistical Sampling Protocol for Production of "Private" Subscriber Prompts and Outputs)(Singer, David) (Entered: 08/10/2026) Docket #152 →
NOTICE OF LODGING filed re Statistical Sampling Protocol for Production of Private Subscriber Prompts and Outputs Order [152-1] re Notice of Lodging, 152 (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order Re Production of Public Subscriber Prompts and Outputs)(Singer, David) (Entered: 08/10/2026) Docket #153 →
MINUTES OF OF INFORMAL DISCOVERY VIDEOCONFERENCE granting 127 Motion for Order; Discovery Hearing held before Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin. On August 7, 2026, the Court held an informal discovery conference by Zoom to discuss various discovery disputes. Based on the discussion with the parties, Docket #148 →
TRANSCRIPT ORDER as to Plaintiffs DC Comics, Disney Enterprises Inc., DreamWorks Animation L.L.C., Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, MVL Film Finance LLC, Marvel Characters Inc., The Cartoon Network, Inc., Turner Entertainment Co., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Universal Docket #147 →
MINUTES OF INFORMAL DISCOVERY VIDEOCONFERENCE ON JULY 31, 2026 held before Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin: [SEE ORDER FOR DETAILS.] Court Recorder: CS 7/31/2026. (asi) (Entered: 08/04/2026) Docket #146 →
MOTION RE: INFORMAL DISCOVERY DISPUTE - Video Conference set for hearing on 7/31/2026 at 1:30 PM before Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin. (asi) (Entered: 07/30/2026) Docket #145 →
NOTICE of Intent to Request Redaction from Court Smart (CS), filed by Defendant Midjourney Inc., re Transcript 136 . (Lauter, Judd) (Entered: 07/28/2026) Docket #144 →
ORDER RE JOINT STIPULATION TO RESET HEARING DATE ON MIDJOURNEY'S MOTION FOR PARTIAL JUDGMENT ON THE PLEADINGS UNDER RULE 12(c) (DKT. 142) by Judge John A. Kronstadt. Therefore, the Stipulation is APPROVED IN PART, as follows: The hearing on the Motion is reset from September 28, 2026 to October 26, Docket #143 →
Joint STIPULATION to Reset Hearing Date on Midjourney's Motion for Partial Judgment on the Pleadings Under Rule 12(c) filed by Plaintiffs DC Comics, Disney Enterprises Inc., DreamWorks Animation L.L.C., Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, MVL Film Finance LLC, Marvel Characters Inc. Docket #142 →
ORDER by Judge John A. Kronstadt GRANTING 138 Non-Resident Attorney Kayla E. Blaker's Application to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Midjourney, Inc., and designating Bobby A. Ghajar as local counsel. [THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DOCUMENT] (yl) (Entered: 07/22/2026) Docket #140 →
SEALED DOCUMENT re Order on Motion for Leave to File Document Under Seal, 134 filed by Defendant Midjourney Inc..(Lauter, Judd) (Entered: 07/22/2026) Docket #141 →
APPLICATION of Non-Resident Attorney Kayla E. Blaker to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Defendant Midjourney Inc. (Pro Hac Vice Fee - $450 Fee Paid, Receipt No. ACACDC-42844775) filed by Defendant Midjourney Inc.. (Ghajar, Bobby) (Entered: 07/21/2026) Docket #138 →
NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION for Judgment on the Pleadings filed by Defendant Midjourney Inc.. Motion set for hearing on 9/28/2026 at 08:30 AM before Judge John A. Kronstadt. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration J. Lauter, # 2 Exhibit A, # 3 Exhibit B, # 4 Exhibit C, # 5 Exhibit D, # 6 Exhibit E, # 7 Exhibi Docket #139 →
NOTICE OF FILING TRANSCRIPT filed for proceedings 7/14/2026 at 9:35am re Transcript 136 THERE IS NO PDF DOCUMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ENTRY. (mg) TEXT ONLY ENTRY (Entered: 07/21/2026) Docket #137 →
TRANSCRIPT for proceedings held on 7/14/2026 at 9:35am. Court Reporter/Electronic Court Recorder: JAMS Certified Transcription, phone number (661) 609-4528. Transcript may be viewed at the court public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Electronic Court Recorder before the deadline for Docket #136 →
REPLY In Support Of NOTICE OF MOTION AND MOTION for Review of MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S ORDER PURSUANT TO FRCP 72(A) AND LOCAL RULE 72-2.1 re Order on Motion to Compel, 88 112 filed by Defendant Midjourney Inc.. (Ghajar, Bobby) (Entered: 07/20/2026) Docket #135 →
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT MIDJOURNEY, INC.'S APPLICATION FOR LEAVE TO FILE UNDER SEAL PORTIONS OF JUNE 15, 2026 IDC TRANSCRIPT by Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlin: granting 131 APPLICATION to Seal Document. Re: Sealed Declaration in Support Declaration 132 . It is hereby ORDERED that the Application Docket #134 →
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