Do I own the images I create with Midjourney?
Yes, under Midjourney's Terms of Service, paid subscribers own the images they create ('Your Assets'). But if you or your company earns over $1,000,000/year, you must be on Pro or Mega to own them. Note: Midjourney keeps a license to use your images, and purely AI-generated images may not hold U.S. copyright.
Why — the first-principles explanation
Ownership here is defined by Midjourney's contract, not by copyright law. The Terms of Service say a paid subscriber owns the assets they generate. This means you can use, sell, and modify them. The key condition is the $1,000,000 revenue rule: bigger companies and their employees must subscribe to Pro or Mega to receive that ownership.
There's a catch in the fine print: Midjourney retains a broad license to use images generated on the platform, for example to train and improve its models and to display them in the public gallery. Stealth Mode (Pro/Mega) keeps your images out of the public gallery, but the company may still keep certain rights to use them internally.
And 'ownership' from Midjourney is not the same as copyright. Owning the file lets you use it, but the U.S. Copyright Office generally won't register a purely AI-generated image, so your legal power to stop others from copying it may be limited. Meaningful human editing can add protectable elements. This is general information, not legal advice.
An example that makes it click
Think of adopting a puppy from a shelter. The paperwork (Midjourney's terms) says the puppy is yours to keep, walk, and love. But the shelter keeps a photo of the puppy for its own brochure (Midjourney's license), and 'owning' the puppy doesn't mean you invented the whole breed, so you can't stop your neighbor from adopting a look-alike (limited copyright). Yours to use, but with a few strings.
Key facts
- Midjourney's Terms of Service grant paid subscribers ownership of their generated assets.
- Companies or employees earning over $1,000,000/year must use Pro or Mega to own assets.
- Midjourney retains a license to use platform-generated images, including for model training.
- Stealth Mode (Pro/Mega) keeps images out of the public gallery.
- Purely AI-generated images may not be registrable for U.S. copyright.
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Do you own the images you make with Midjourney? Under its Terms of Service, yes, if you're a paid subscriber, you own the assets you create, so you can use, sell, and edit them. But there are strings attached. First, if you or your company earns over a million dollars a year, you have to be on the Pro or Mega plan to get that ownership. Second, Midjourney keeps a license to use images made on the platform, including to improve its AI and show them in the public gallery. Stealth Mode on Pro and Mega keeps yours private. And here's the big nuance: owning the file isn't the same as holding a copyright. The U.S. Copyright Office generally won't register a purely AI-made image, so stopping copycats can be tough. Add real human editing to strengthen your claim. This is general info, not legal advice.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Does Midjourney own my images?
No. Paid subscribers own their assets under the terms, though Midjourney keeps a license to use platform-generated images for training and display.
Can Midjourney use my images to train its AI?
Generally yes, under the license it retains. Stealth Mode limits public display, but the company may still keep certain internal-use rights.
Do I own images if my company is large?
Only if you're on Pro or Mega. Companies or employees earning over $1,000,000/year must use those plans to own their assets.
Is owning the same as copyright?
No. Ownership is Midjourney's contract term. Purely AI-generated images may not be copyrightable in the U.S., limiting your legal exclusivity.