AI training is now restricted on Universal Pictures films, as stated by a newly added legal warning in their movies, such as 'How to Train Your Dragon'. The notice forbids any business from utilizing these films for AI training purposes.
In an effort to protect their intellectual property, film studios like Universal Pictures have started including warnings in the credits of their movies, stating that they may not be used for AI training. This move is a response to the increasing use of AI in the film industry and the potential for unauthorized data mining and copyright infringement by AI companies.
Universal Pictures, which generated $1.88 billion in box office revenue in the U.S. and Canada in 2024, a 3% decline from the previous year, is not alone in this stance. Other Big Eight film studios have begun to incorporate AI into their movies, but Universal and other studios view the use of their content without permission as a form of theft and a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."
The warning, which first appeared in "How to Train Your Dragon," released in June, also appeared in "Jurassic World Rebirth," released in July, and "The Bad Guys 2," which came out in August. The standard statement threatens civil liability and criminal prosecution if faced with unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition.
The ongoing litigation between Universal Pictures and Disney, on one side, and AI company Midjourney, on the other, serves as a clear example of the studios' commitment to protecting their content. Midjourney made $300 million last year, partly by generating media containing copyrighted characters created by the studios. Characters like Hiccup from "How to Train Your Dragon" and Po from "Kung Fu Panda" are examples of Universal creations that Midjourney allegedly reproduced.
Disney and Universal filed a complaint against Midjourney in June, accusing the company of duplicating iconic characters from their copyrighted works in its AI outputs. The warning also includes a standard statement that the movie is protected under the laws of the United States and other countries.
Meanwhile, Netflix disclosed last month that it used AI to generate footage for one of its shows for the first time. However, it remains to be seen how the industry will navigate the balance between innovation and protection of intellectual property in the age of AI.
[1] Universal Pictures Includes AI Warning in Credits: https://www.theverge.com/2025/06/15/23180802/universal-pictures-ai-warning-credits-how-to-train-your-dragon [2] Universal Pictures Sues AI Company for Copyright Infringement: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/universal-pictures-sues-ai-company-midjourney-1235029906/ [3] Netflix Uses AI to Generate Show Footage: https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/netflix-uses-ai-to-generate-show-footage-for-the-first-time/ [4] Disney Tops Global Box Office in 2024: https://www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?yr=2024&p=.htm
- Other film studios, like Disney, are also incorporating AI into their productions, but they share Universal Pictures' concern about unauthorized use of their content.
- The increasing involvement of artificial intelligence in the entertainment industry necessitates a careful examination of the balance between innovation and the protection of intellectual property rights.
- The employment of AI in the film industry has raised concerns about potential copyright infringement, leading some studios to include warnings in their movies' credits.
- In an attempt to protect their creations from unauthorized duplication, film studios are threatending legal action, as shown by the ongoing lawsuits against AI companies such as Midjourney.
- As technology advances, the entertainment industry, including film studios like Universal Pictures, faces new challenges in safeguarding their intellectual property, especially in the context of artificial intelligence.
