Hollywood Giants Sue Chinese AI Firm MiniMax for Alleged Copyright Infringement
Top Hollywood studios, including Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Universal Pictures, have filed a federal lawsuit against Chinese artificial intelligence company MiniMax, alleging massive copyright infringement.
The studios claim that MiniMax’s AI-powered image and video generation service, Hailuo AI, systematically copies and uses their copyrighted characters without permission, generating unauthorized videos featuring iconic figures like Spider-Man, Batman, and the Minions.
According to the complaint, MiniMax’s business model is built around infringing on protected works, with the company marketing its service as a “Hollywood studio in your pocket.” Users can generate high-quality videos featuring protected characters by simply typing prompts, such as “Darth Vader walking around the Death Star.”
The studios argue that MiniMax disregards US copyright law and treats their valuable characters like its own.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, seeks monetary damages, including MiniMax’s profits from the alleged infringement, as well as statutory damages of up to $150,000 per work..
The studios also demand a permanent injunction to stop the unauthorized use of their copyrighted material. This lawsuit marks the first time major US entertainment companies have targeted a Chinese AI company, following a similar lawsuit against California-based AI company Midjourney in June.
MiniMax, valued at $4 billion in 2025 after raising $850 million in venture capital, reportedly did not respond to the studios’ cease-and-desist letter or cease its infringement.
The studios argue that MiniMax could easily implement copyright protection measures similar to those used by other AI services but has chosen not to do so.
