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Disney and Universal sue AI firm Midjourney for copyright infringement
The headquarters of The Walt Disney Co. in Burbank, Calif.
Beth Coller/NYT
Disney and Universal have filed a copyright lawsuit against popular artificial intelligence image-generator Midjourney on Wednesday, marking the first time major Hollywood companies have enter the legal battle over generative AI. Filed in federal district court in Los Angeles, the complaint claims Midjourney pirated the libraries of the two Hollywood studios to generate and distribute 'endless unauthorized copies' of their famed characters, such as Darth Vader from 'Star Wars' and the Minions from 'Despicable Me.' 'Midjourney is the quintessential copyright free-rider and a bottomless pit of plagiarism. Piracy is piracy, and whether an infringing image or video is made with AI or another technology does not make it any less infringing,' the companies state in the complaint. The studios also claimed the San Francisco-based AI company ignored their requests to stop infringing on their copyrighted works and to take technological measures to halt such image generation. Midjourney didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
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ENTERTAINMENT
Nintendo Switch 2 sets sales record in boon for games sector
A customer posed with a Nintendo Switch 2 game console at a Bic Camera Inc. electronics store in Tokyo on June 5.
Kiyoshi Ota/Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomb
Nintendo Co. sold 3.5 million-plus units of the Switch 2 in just four days, a record-breaking start for the company's first new console in eight years. The Japanese company has already sold more of the device than the roughly 2.7 million the original Switch managed during its first month in 2017. The numbers, released by the company Wednesday, bode well for its target to sell 15 million units by March next year. They also reinforce analysts' projections that Nintendo may be able to sell far more if it can pump up supply. Gamers from Tokyo to San Francisco lined up for hours last week to get their hands on one of the most highly anticipated gadgets of the year. The long-awaited Switch 2 succeeds a global hit in the original, which pioneered a hybrid design that allows play both at home on a TV and on the move. The release of the new Switch was regarded as a watershed moment for the industry, steering business decisions by partners and competitors for years to come. At a time of thinning margins and exploding development budgets, a popular new console may galvanize the sector and provide a counterbalance to the increasing dominance of a handful of marquee, live-service games. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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ENERGY
World Bank ends its ban on funding nuclear power projects
Two cooling towers of the Civaux nuclear power plant in Civaux, central France.
ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images
The world's largest and most influential development bank said Wednesday that it would lift its long-standing ban on funding nuclear power projects. The decision by the board of the World Bank could have profound implications for the ability of developing countries to industrialize without burning planet-warming fuels such as coal and oil. The ban has been formally in place since 2013, but the last time the bank funded a nuclear power project was 1959 in Italy. In the decades since, a few of the bank's major funders, particularly Germany, have opposed its involvement in nuclear energy, on the grounds that the risk of catastrophic accidents in poor countries with less expertise in nuclear technology was unacceptably high. The bank's policy shift, described in an email to employees late Wednesday, comes as nuclear power is experiencing a global surge in support. Casting nuclear power as an essential replacement for fossil fuels, more than 20 countries — including the United States, Canada, France, and Ghana — signed a pledge to triple nuclear power by 2050 at the United Nations' flagship climate conference two years ago. The Trump administration, while far less concerned about climate change than it is with competing against the Russian and Chinese nuclear industries, is trying to expand the fleet of American reactors and quadruple their contribution to the country's electric grids. Cabinet officials have emphasized support for a new generation of smaller reactors that offer the promise of faster deployment but have yet to be proven. The United States is the World Bank's single largest shareholder and holds significant sway over its policies. In April, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the bank to lift its ban, saying in a speech that doing so would 'revolutionize energy supply for many emerging markets.' — NEW YORK TIMES
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AUTOMAKERS
GM dodges tariffs with production shift to US from Mexico
The General Motors assembly plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg
General Motors plans to invest $4 billion in its US plants over the next two years in response to President Trump's tariffs in a move that reduces production in Mexico while boosting domestic output of some of its some of its top-selling gas-powered vehicles. The spending will expand factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee. The moves will boost annual US production capacity by 300,000 vehicles, GM chief financial officer Paul Jacobson said at a Deutsche Bank conference on Wednesday Assembly of several top-selling models, including its very profitable Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickup trucks and the Chevrolet Equinox SUV, will move to factories in the United States from Mexico. GM plans to add between 3,000 and 4,000 US jobs when all production is in place, a spokesman said. The shift marks one of the biggest pivots yet by an automaker in response to Trump's tariffs that have upended the economics of automobile manufacturing. It's also a recognition by chief executive Mary Barra that Trump's trade war is not a passing phase. The investments will allow GM to produce more than 2 million vehicles in the United States each year. GM will continue making vehicles affected by the announcement in Mexico, but at lower volumes, the person said. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
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Ashley Tisdale Explains Why Sharpay Evans Wasn't the ‘Popular Girl' in 'High School Musical' (Exclusive)
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4 hours ago
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Disneyland Guest 'Almost Spit Out His Coffee' Over Nearly $1K Breakfast Bill For Family of 5
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Miami Herald
7 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Two New Shows Just Premiered at Walt Disney World, and They're Pure Magic
Walt Disney World in Orlando just premiered two much-anticipated stage shows at Disney's Hollywood Studios - and they're fresh, innovative and spectacular. "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" and 'Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" are both now open at the park. While vastly different productions, each is filled with Disney nostalgia and immersive special effects, including the use of dazzling lighting, state-of-the-art sound design, stunning costumes, spot-on casting and more. Our family was there for the new shows' debut on May 27, 2025. Here's everything you need to know about the performances and how to be among the first to see them. The new shows are at Disney's Hollywood Studios: a fitting spot because both are based on hit Disney movies, and Hollywood Studios celebrates the imagined worlds of cinema. "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" can be found in the park's Animation Courtyard, across from the limited-time dance party "Get Animated" and near Star Wars Launch Bay. "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" is on Sunset Boulevard, just steps from the fan favorite Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. SheBuysTravel tip: If visiting this summer, make sure to head to Animation Courtyard early to enjoy a host of dynamic "Cool Kid Summer" themed events, including ongoing character meet-and-greets, games, crafts and jump rope performances. I attended the performances with my husband and three children (ages 5, 5 and 8). Both productions are upbeat and funny, and strike a wonderful balance of appealing to both kids and adults. Since both are based on widely seen Disney classics, everyone in our family was able to follow the storylines. "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" is colorful, lively and imaginative. "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" features a few spooky moments (an onscreen dragon "breathing" fire across the stage), but the villains are presented as charming and mischievous. Both productions are fast-paced and action-filled, so there isn't really time for either to become scary. In "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure," my kids went wild when iridescent bubbles filled the theater during a rousing rendition of "Under the Sea." The puppetry is also incredible (and performed so invisibly that the show's many illusions are never broken). While "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" puts the spotlight on three villains, nearly 60 other Disney antagonists are also featured on "mirrors" that surround the stage during the show. My kids loved spotting Wish's Magnifico, Aladdin's Jafar and Beauty and the Beast's Gaston, among others. SheBuysTravel tip: If traveling with young ones, keep your eyes on the show's many "mirrors" and try to name all the other Disney villains as they appear. While neither of the two new shows offer Lighting Lane access yet, both theaters offer continuous scheduled performances and high-capacity seating for each show. Standby lines should move quickly after an initial wait, and "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" is expected to begin offering Lightning Lane access soon. Showtimes for "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" are currently running from 9:15 a.m. to 7 p.m., and showtimes for "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. SheBuysTravel tip: To bypass crowds, stay at a Disney Resort Hotel (or a select Disney partner hotel) and enjoy 30-minute early entry to all four theme parks. This will allow time to ride a few rides first, then get in line for the shows. "The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure" replaced the prior "Voyage of the Little Mermaid," a show housed in the same theater from 1992 to 2020. While both shows were inspired by Disney's 1989 film, the newest production is fully reimagined, creating an all-new theatrical experience. "Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After" is in the space formerly occupied by the Cars-themed show Lightning McQueen's Racing Academy from 2019 to 2024. The theater has been dramatically renovated, with plush seating, a wide stage and an elaborate set. The attraction is thought to kick off the future Villains Land, a new themed area coming to the Magic Kingdom. There are many terrific live shows at Walt Disney World . The newest productions join the ranks of other family-friendly theater performances at Disney's Hollywood Studios, including Disney's Beauty and the Beast – Live On Stage and For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. 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