- [how viral ai slop took over](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/27/from-shrimp-jesus-to-erotic-tractors-how-viral-ai-slop-took-over-the-internet) — theguardian.com (2025-12-27, reporting). slop genre history; woty
- [dall·e 2 cover details, karen x](https://www.hearstmagazinesinternational.com/news/cosmopolitan-usa-let-ai-design-its-latest-magazine-cover/) — hearstmagazinesinternational.com (2022-06, primary). dall·e 2 cover details, karen x. cheng prompt
- [horrible, horrible way to interact](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38734587) — hacker news (2023-12, community). "horrible, horrible way to interact"; install-base counter-argument
- [deepfake hands angle](https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/ai-hands-midjourney-deepfake-images-b2308670.html) — independent.co.uk (2023-03, reporting). "deepfake hands" angle
- [open-beta mechanics, discord-native distribution, profitable claim](https://itdoeswhatnow.com/m/2022-07-12-midjourney-opens-its-beta-on-discord/) — itdoeswhatnow.com (2022-07-12, reference). open-beta mechanics, discord-native distribution, profitable claim
- [procedural history](https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/tragic-ending-award-winning-ai-artwork-4874317/) — jdsupra.com (2023-09, reporting). procedural history; photoshop/gigapixel steps
- [protest coverage + faq fallout](https://kotaku.com/artstation-ai-art-generated-images-epic-games-protest-1849891085) — kotaku.com (2022-12-13, reporting). protest coverage + faq fallout
- [discord as the genai foundation](https://blog.kowatek.com/2024/05/29/from-viggle-to-midjourney-discord-is-an-unlikely-foundation-for-the-genai-boom/) — blog.kowatek.com (2024-05-29, reporting). 20.3m largest community; genai-on-discord pattern
- [entities suing](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-09-04/batman-superman-studio-warner-bros-sues-ai-company-midjourney) — latimes.com (2025-09-04, reporting). entities suing; jury demand
- [transformative-fair-use analysis](https://www.law.com/therecorder/2025/08/08/in-copyright-case-ai-startup-argues-use-of-disney-universal-characters-to-train-ai-models-is-transformative-fair-use-/) — law.com (2025-08-08, reporting). transformative-fair-use analysis; meta/anthropic rulings context
- [co-imaginative-space framing](https://lbbonline.com/news/ai-art-and-midjourney-the-rise-of-multiverse-imagination) — lbbonline.com (2022, reporting). co-imaginative-space framing; holz quotes
- [timeline](https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2023/03/fact-check-images-of-trump-arrest-are-not-real-photos-but-ai-generated-images.html) — leadstories.com (2023-03, reporting). timeline; "making pictures of trump getting arrested…" verbatim; ban tweet
- [sims/final-medium verbatim quotes](https://levelup.gitconnected.com/david-holz-shared-his-long-term-midjourney-vision-open-real-time-virtual-world-c8a811f30901) — levelup.gitconnected.com (2024, reference). "sims"/final-medium verbatim quotes
- [human-authorship doctrine cite](https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=da09f801-d8c7-46a4-b51f-c9c7214243f9) — lexology.com (2023-02-28, reporting). human-authorship doctrine cite
- [limited monopoly…must give way to fair use verbatim](https://www.lightreading.com/ai-machine-learning/midjourney-wields-fair-use-defense-in-response-to-disney-nbcu-ai-lawsuit) — lightreading.com (2025-08, reference). "limited monopoly…must give way to fair use" verbatim
- [allens ai won](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kevin-roose_an-ai-generated-picture-won-an-art-prize-activity-6972969109017804801-ym5g) — linkedin (2022-09-06, primary). allen's "ai won. humans lost." verbatim
- [nightshade rationale](https://www.marketplace.org/story/2024/02/05/ai-models-art-poison-pill) — marketplace.org (2024-02-05, reporting). nightshade rationale; opt-out futility quote
- [extended quotes incl](https://marvinliao.medium.com/marvins-best-weekly-reads-october-8th-2023-119d98a2b0d7) — marvinliao.medium.com (2023-10-08, reporting). extended quotes incl. michael stewart m12 line
- [vibe slop/class-anxiety counter-read](https://yogeshmalik.medium.com/the-vibe-slop-panic-reveals-something-dark-about-human-nature-31ea707c01eb) — yogeshmalik.medium.com (2025, community). "vibe slop"/class-anxiety counter-read
- [$500m 2025](https://megaoneai.com/blog/midjourney-revenue-business-model/) — megaoneai.com (2026, reporting). $500m 2025; ~100 staff; 19.83m accounts jan 2026; figures unverified
- [version history: v8](https://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/32199405667853-Version) — docs.midjourney.com (undated, primary). version history: v8.1 default 6/10–7/23/26; v8.2 default 7/24/26
- [v6 prompting/text behavior analysis](https://midlibrary.io/midguide/midjourney-v6-in-depth-review-part-1-overview) — midlibrary.io (2023-12, reporting). v6 prompting/text behavior analysis
- [extended holz its just like an engine quote](https://mindmatters.ai/2022/08/what-can-ai-text-to-image-generators-do-for-artists/) — mindmatters.ai (2022-08-15, reporting). extended holz "it's just like an engine" quote
- [brand-design breakdown](https://www.mindstudio.ai/blog/recraft-v4-vs-imagen-3-vs-midjourney-brand-assets) — mindstudio.ai (2025, reference). brand-design breakdown; imagen 3 text gains
- [rutkowski 93k prompts vs picasso 2k](https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/09/16/1059598/this-artist-is-dominating-ai-generated-art-and-hes-not-happy-about-it/) — technologyreview.com (2022-09-16, reporting). rutkowski 93k prompts vs picasso 2k; midjourney discord usage
- [midjourney's answer](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Disney-v-Midjourney-Answer-to-Complaint-8-6-25.pdf) — cdn.arstechnica.net (2025-08-06, primary). fair use; "tens of millions of users"; plaintiffs' employees subscribe; iger quote
- [--ow range, v7-only](https://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/36285124473997-Omni-Reference) — docs.midjourney.com (undated, primary). --ow range, v7-only
- [batch-size gpu costs](https://docs.midjourney.com/hc/en-us/articles/37460773864589-Video) — docs.midjourney.com (undated, primary). batch-size gpu costs; sd/hd tiers
- [24-image drafts](https://updates.midjourney.com/draft-mode-for-v8-1-and-new-feature-previews/) — updates.midjourney.com (2026-06-16, primary). 24-image drafts; --preview program
- [720p](https://updates.midjourney.com/hd-mode-for-video/) — updates.midjourney.com (2025-08-07, primary). 720p; 3.2× cost; pro/mega
- [unified editor](https://updates.midjourney.com/image-editor/) — updates.midjourney.com (2024-08-16, primary). unified editor; rooms↔discord mirroring
- [omni-reference launch mechanics](https://updates.midjourney.com/omni-reference-oref/) — updates.midjourney.com (2025-05, primary). omni-reference launch mechanics
- [v7 sref system + --sref random](https://updates.midjourney.com/style-references-for-v7/) — updates.midjourney.com (2025-06-16, primary). v7 sref system + --sref random
- [version 6.1 release notes](https://updates.midjourney.com/version-6-1/) — updates.midjourney.com (2024-07-30, primary). v6.1 release notes; default
- [turbo/relax, draft mode, roadmap](https://updates.midjourney.com/v7-alpha/) — updates.midjourney.com (2025-04-04, primary). turbo/relax, draft mode, roadmap
- [v8 alpha](https://updates.midjourney.com/v8-alpha/) — updates.midjourney.com (2026-03-17, primary). v8 alpha; --hd 2k; --q 4; new prompting
- [speed/cost cuts](https://updates.midjourney.com/v8-1-alpha/) — updates.midjourney.com (2026-04-14, primary). speed/cost cuts; hd default
- [4s sd/12s hd](https://updates.midjourney.com/v8-1-is-now-the-default-model/) — updates.midjourney.com (2026-06-11, primary). 4s sd/12s hd; text rendering; v8.0 deprecation
- [version 8.2 release notes](https://updates.midjourney.com/version-8-2/) — updates.midjourney.com (2026-07-24, primary). v8.2 aesthetics/personalization; new edit model replaces omni/char-ref/retexture
- [image-to-video](https://updates.midjourney.com/introducing-our-v1-video-model/) — updates.midjourney.com (2025-06-18, primary). image-to-video; 8× cost; "25 times cheaper"; extend to ~21s
- [web open to all](https://updates.midjourney.com/the-web-is-open-to-all/) — updates.midjourney.com (2024-08-23, primary). web open to all; discord/google account merge
- [discords biggest failure argument](https://www.mofactor.com/2026/03/08/discord-and-tears/) — mofactor.com (2026-03-08, primary). "discord's biggest failure" argument; peak ~20.9m members sept 2024; dau 1.2–2.5m
- [gpus are melting altman quote](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/studio-ghibli-chatgpt-inspired-memes-portraits-rcna198273) — nbcnews.com (2025-03-26, reporting). "gpus are melting" altman quote; 11k-creatives letter context
- [4,700-name exhibit vs 16k sheet](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/famous-artists-trained-ai-generator-viral-list-rcna131995) — nbcnews.com (2024-01, reporting). 4,700-name exhibit vs 16k sheet; wes anderson/groening
- [wide-scale misinformation framing](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/pope-francis-ai-generated-images-fool-internet-rcna76838) — nbcnews.com (2023-03-27, reporting). "wide-scale misinformation" framing; buzzfeed motive quote
- [first-of-its-kind](https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/nx-s1-5431684/ai-disney-universal-midjourney-copyright-infringement-lawsuit) — npr.org (2025-06-12, reporting). "first-of-its-kind"; 110pp; "virtual vending machine"; ~20m users
- [is it art canon](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/16/learning/are-ai-generated-pictures-art.html) — the new york times (2022-09-16, community). "is it art" canon
- [$432,500 sale](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/arts/design/ai-art-sold-christies.html) — the new york times (2018-10-25, reporting). $432,500 sale; >40× estimate
- [signed algorithm marketing](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/arts/design/christies-art-artificial-intelligence-obvious.html) — the new york times (2018-10-22, reference). "signed 'algorithm'" marketing
- [i won, and i didnt break any rules](https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~jhoey/teaching/cogsci600/papers/Roose2022.pdf) — cs.uwaterloo.ca (2022-09-02, reporting). "i won, and i didn't break any rules"; backlash documented; original: nyt the shift, kevin roose
- [last week tonight on ai images](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YNku5FKWjw) — youtube (2022-08-28, reporting). 10-min midjourney/ai-images segment; 5.0m views
- [statista table: 19](https://openaijourney.com/midjourney-statistics/) — openaijourney.com (2024, reference). statista table: 19.93m april 2024 = #1 discord server
- [laion-400m vs midjourney allegation detail](https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.407208/gov.uscourts.cand.407208.223.0_3.pdf) — storage.courtlistener.com (2024-08-12, primary). laion-400m vs midjourney allegation detail
- [signed-fakes confusion detail](https://www.pcgamer.com/popular-fantasy-artist-claims-ai-has-ripped-him-off-more-than-picasso-and-da-vinci-and-his-own-work-is-getting-buried-by-the-copies/) — pcgamer.com (2023, reporting). signed-fakes confusion detail
- [safeguards-insufficient quote](https://www.pcmag.com/news/ai-image-generator-midjourney-pauses-free-trials-amid-huge-demand-abuse) — pcmag.com (2023-03-30, reporting). safeguards-insufficient quote
- [discord-post announcement](https://www.pcworld.com/article/1677533/midjourney-halts-free-trials-after-ai-photos-go-viral.html) — pcworld.com (2023-03, reporting). discord-post announcement; $10/mo floor
- [open to everyone beta, discord-only catch](https://www.pcworld.com/article/820518/midjourneys-ai-art-goes-live-for-everyone.html) — pcworld.com (2022-07-26, reporting). "open to everyone" beta, discord-only catch
- [strategic-infrastructure framing](https://perplexityaimagazine.com/ai-tools/midjourney-vs-stable-diffusion/) — perplexityaimagazine.com (2026, reference). strategic-infrastructure framing
- [viral resurfacing of forbes quotes](https://petapixel.com/2022/12/21/midjourny-founder-admits-to-using-a-hundred-million-images-without-consent/) — petapixel.com (2022-12-21, reporting). viral resurfacing of forbes quotes; metadata rebuttals
- [public open-source release](https://petapixel.com/2022/08/23/open-source-ai-image-generator-stable-diffusion-released-to-the-public/) — petapixel.com (2022-08-23, reporting). public open-source release; mostaque quote
- [competitive context vs veo/sora/firefly](https://petapixel.com/2025/06/20/midjourney-arrives-in-the-ai-video-space-with-v1-model/) — petapixel.com (2025-06-20, reporting). competitive context vs veo/sora/firefly
- [escape from discord island quote](https://petapixel.com/2024/08/23/midjourney-launches-website-interface-for-its-ai-image-generator/) — petapixel.com (2024-08-23, reporting). "escape from discord island" quote; 25-image trial; 10k-image alpha history
- [gold standard for pure aesthetic quality vs control weakness](https://blog.picassoia.com/ideogram-vs-recraft-vs-midjourney-top-designer-tools) — blog.picassoia.com (2025, reference). "gold standard for pure aesthetic quality" vs control weakness
- [~21m largest server](https://blog.pnly.io/midjourney/) — blog.pnly.io (undated, reference). ~21m largest server; guide/moderator structure; 200 newbie channels
- [chronology cross-check](https://populartimelines.com/timeline/Midjourney/full) — populartimelines.com (undated, reference). chronology cross-check
- [2d→3d strategic read](https://press.farm/midjourneys-next-act-why-david-holz-is-shifting-the-platform-from-image-prompts/) — press.farm (undated, reference). 2d→3d strategic read; leap motion context
- [no consent, no credit, no compensation verbatim](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/class-action-filed-against-stability-ai-midjourney-and-deviantart-for-dmca-violations-right-of-publicity-violations-unlawful-competition-breach-of-tos-301721869.html) — prnewswire (2023-01, reporting). "no consent, no credit, no compensation" verbatim
- [origin story](https://www.chieftain.com/story/news/2022/08/31/ai-painting-wins-at-colorado-state-fair-pueblo-artist-explains-jason-allen/65466872007/) — chieftain.com (2022-08-31, reporting). origin story; $11/entry; disclosure at drop-off
- [waic remarks](https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20230707A06ZVT00) — news.qq.com (2023-07-07, reporting). waic remarks; name from 庄周/zhuang zhou; "extension of ourselves"
- [arena elos: recraft v3 #1, flux1](https://www.recraft.ai/blog/comparing-popular-and-high-performing-text-to-image-models-and-providers) — recraft.ai (2025, reporting). arena elos: recraft v3 #1, flux1.1 #2, ideogram v2 #3, mj v6.1 #4
- [sheet tabs incl](https://www.theregister.com/software/2024/01/04/spreadsheet-of-ripped-off-artists-lands-in-midjourney-case/) — theregister.com (2024-01-04, reporting). sheet tabs incl. nsfw-blocklist detail
- [class action filed](https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/lawsuits-accuse-ai-content-creators-misusing-copyrighted-work-2023-01-17/) — reuters (2023-01-17, reporting). class action filed; laion-5b; saveri/butterick
- [motions to dismiss arguments](https://www.reuters.com/legal/ai-companies-ask-us-court-dismiss-artists-copyright-lawsuit-2023-04-19/) — reuters (2023-04-19, reporting). motions to dismiss arguments
- [disney and universal sue](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/disney-universal-sue-image-creator-midjourney-copyright-infringement-2025-06-11/) — reuters (2025-06-11, reporting). filing; "bottomless pit of plagiarism"
- [core claims proceed](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/ai-companies-lose-bid-dismiss-parts-visual-artists-copyright-case-2024-08-13/) — reuters (2024-08-13, reporting). core claims proceed; discovery
- [traced to guerrero art in midjourney official fb group](https://www.reuters.com/article/fact-check/image-of-pope-francis-wearing-oversized-white-puffer-coat-is-ai-generated-idUSL1N36120G/) — reuters (2023-03, reporting). traced to "guerrero art" in midjourney official fb group
- [coverage of zarya decision](https://www.reuters.com/legal/ai-created-images-lose-us-copyrights-test-new-technology-2023-02-22/) — reuters (2023-02-22, reporting). coverage of zarya decision
- [$200m arr 2023](https://sacra.com/c/midjourney/) — sacra (undated, reference). $200m arr 2023; 40–45 staff; self-funded
- [deepfates/willison coinage chain](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ai-slop-how-every-media-revolution-breeds-rubbish-and-art/) — scientificamerican.com (2025, reference). deepfates/willison coinage chain; willison definition verbatim
- [discord, the superapp for ai](https://signumgc.substack.com/p/discord-the-superapp-for-ai) — signumgc.substack.com (2024, reference). 19.8m members; 13m→19.8m yoy; discord monetization angles


Published by @ben in profile revision 1.
Original document: https://hraness.com/midjourney/sources
Original credited author: Hraness
AI-drafted at Ben Guo's direct request and credited to Hraness; every claim links to its cataloged source.

## Structured source and record data

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