Universal Pictures is reportedly taking a major legal stance against AI. Since June, viewers have been noticing warnings at the end of Universal movies which state the films cannot be used to train AI, furthering the interesting conversation about movie studios and technological advancements like artificial intelligence. Most recently, the warning appeared in The Bad Guys 2 end credits.

According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the worldwide distribution of this anti-AI warning in the end credits of their movies adds another layer of protection for Universal Pictures. This warning will hopefully help to prevent data mining and stop artificial intelligence systems from being trained using intellectual and copyrighted properties. Check out the full warning quote below:

This motion picture is protected under the laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

This new stance comes just months after various studios like Disney and Universal filed a lawsuit against Midjourney in June, calling the company a “bottomless pit of plagiarism.” The anti-AI warning now making its way into the end credits of Universal Pictures’ new and upcoming movies marks a major escalation in Hollywood’s response to copyright infringement by generative AI.

What Universal’s Anti-AI Stance Means

There are plenty of movie studios that are nervous about the use of AI, as it means that anyone can effectively steal intellectual property and infringe upon content. Therefore, Universal Pictures’ new warning at the end of films represents a major milestone in threatening lawsuits in an effort to push back against AI’s rising usage of copyrighted material.

On the other hand, some studios are reportedly embracing the use of AI in their work. Previously, it was said that Lionsgate is gearing up for AI company partnerships to make anime adaptations of their live-action movies, opening up possibilities for reinvention of franchises into various formats. Therefore, there is some division surrounding AI’s place in entertainment.

Our Take On Universal’s Anti-AI Warning

The use of AI in creative fields is a messy and divisive subject, sparking debate about whether it is fair to use an artificial intelligence system that has taken from the work of others. This debate was most recently seen in Marvel’s Secret Invasion opening credits controversy, when it was revealed that AI was used to create the uncanny sequence.

While, in some cases, AI has been applied in somewhat respectful and heartfelt ways — such as recreating Ian Holm’s likeness in Alien Romulus — there are certainly a lot of legal and ethical issues that need to be navigated. Therefore, it makes sense Universal Pictures is cracking down on the issue now to protect copyrighted properties from unfair usage.