National Law Review

Shanghai Huangpu District People’s Court: AI Prompts Not Copyrightable

In a 2025 ruling, Shanghai Huangpu District People’s Court held that English‑language prompts fed into Midjourney are not eligible for copyright protection. The court found the six prompt sets to be unordered lists of common artistic terms lacking original expression, classifying them as unprotectable ideas. It also noted that the plaintiff failed to prove control over the infringing account. The decision highlights policy worries that extending copyright to short prompts could limit language use and hinder AI innovation.