Disney and Universal sue AI image company Midjourney for unlicensed use of Star Wars, The Simpsons and more

(via CNBC)

Disney and Universal have filed a lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney, accusing it of copyright infringement for creating and distributing unauthorized images of characters from franchises like Star Wars, The Simpsons, and Shrek. The studios claim Midjourney ignored cease-and-desist letters and continued releasing new versions of its software, generating $300 million in revenue last year. This marks the first major copyright lawsuit from Hollywood targeting an AI company, citing a threat to U.S. copyright protections.

Brand Insights → This lawsuit shows Disney and Universal using brand strategy to protect their most valuable asset: their stories. By going after Midjourney, they’re drawing a line, telling the world that creativity and ownership still matter, even in the age of AI. It’s a smart cultural move too, tapping into growing fears about AI replacing human work. The timing aligns with public concern about digital ethics, and the lawsuit becomes a narrative itself: big studios defending the artists behind beloved characters. It reframes them as protectors, not just corporations.

Heineken to invest over $2.7 billion in Mexico through 2028

(via Yahoo! Finance)

Heineken announced it will invest $2.75 billion in Mexico by 2028, including building a new factory in Yucatán with an initial capacity of 4 million hectoliters. The company emphasized this is an expansion, not a replacement, and future capacity could double. This follows a broader trend of major beer companies investing heavily in Mexico despite ongoing concerns about water resource management.

Brand Insights → Heineken’s $2.75 billion investment in Mexico signals more than just growth, it’s a strategic move to strengthen its presence in a key beer market. By building a new factory in Yucatán and calling it an “expansion,” not a replacement, Heineken positions itself as committed to local development, not job cuts. The timing is important too, as it enters a space where other brewers are investing despite environmental concerns. The brand is walking a fine line, telling a story of progress while needing to show responsibility around water use.

YouTube says its ecosystem created 490K jobs and added $55B to the US GDP in 2024

(via TechCrunch)

YouTube reported that its creative ecosystem contributed over $55 billion to U.S. GDP and supported more than 490,000 full-time jobs in 2024, up from $35 billion and 390,000 jobs in 2022. The ecosystem includes creators and those who support them, such as editors, assistants, and workers at creator-focused companies. Despite slower venture capital investment, the sector is growing rapidly, prompting bipartisan political support and calls for better institutional recognition of creators' financial legitimacy.

Brand Insights → YouTube is using this moment to position itself as more than just a video platform, it’s framing itself as a major economic engine. By highlighting job growth and GDP impact, YouTube is telling a story about the creator economy as a serious, professional industry. The timing is smart, coming when creators are pushing for better recognition from banks and government. This strategy builds public trust and political influence while reinforcing YouTube’s brand as the most stable, creator-friendly platform in a fast-changing digital world.

Value Proposition

A value proposition is a simple way for a business to answer the question: “Why should someone buy from us instead of someone else?” It’s basically a promise a company makes to its customers about what they’ll get if they choose that product or service. A strong value proposition clearly explains what the product or service is, who it’s for, and why it’s better than the competition. It highlights the specific benefits that make it stand out in a crowded market. Think of it like this: if a phone company says, “Our phones are the most durable and have the longest battery life,” that’s their value proposition. They’re not just listing features, they’re telling you what makes their phone different and why that difference matters.

It’s not just about being cheaper. It could be faster, easier, more reliable, more stylish, whatever matters most to the customer. A good value proposition taps into what people actually want and need. Smart companies use their value proposition in ads, websites, packaging, and sales pitches to grab attention, build trust, and create loyalty. In short, a value proposition is like a company’s elevator pitch: quick, clear, and focused on the benefit to you. When done right, it answers your question before you even have to ask.

75% of Shoppers Won’t Look Past Amazon’s First Page—Are You There Yet?

In 2025, beating your competitors on Amazon requires effective external traffic strategies. Stack Influence uses advanced AI and a dedicated community to effortlessly automate thousands of micro-influencer collaborations monthly. Top brands like Magic Spoon, Unilever, and MaryRuth Organics use Stack Influence to drive external traffic, create authentic user-generated content (UGC), and dramatically scale recurring revenue—often seeing increases up to 13X in just two months.

Forget negotiating influencer fees. Pay only with products and receive full rights to impactful images and videos created by influencers. Fully automated management means you achieve top Amazon rankings without lifting a finger.

Outrank your competitors and dominate your niche in 2025 with Stack Influence.

Get 10% OFF this month!