The Walt Disney Company has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Google, alleging "massive" copyright infringement by the tech giant's artificial intelligence (AI) models and services. The letter, first reported by Variety, claims Google has commercially distributed unauthorized images and videos derived from Disney's copyrighted intellectual property, affecting numerous iconic characters and works.
According to details from the letter seen by Variety, Disney asserts that "Google operates as a virtual vending machine, capable of reproducing, rendering, and distributing copies of Disney’s valuable library of copyrighted characters and other works on a mass scale." This accusation centers on Google's AI systems, which Disney alleges are generating and disseminating unauthorized copies of its content. A key point of contention highlighted in the letter is the branding of many of these generated images with the Google Gemini logo. Disney claims this practice "falsely implying that Google’s exploitation of Disney’s intellectual property is authorized and endorsed by Disney," creating a misleading association. The letter specifically identifies character infringements spanning a wide range of Disney's holdings, including properties from "Frozen," "The Lion King," "Moana," and "The Little Mermaid," as well as characters from the "Deadpool" franchise.
Google did not respond to requests for comment regarding the cease-and-desist letter, as reported by TechCrunch.
This formal legal action by Disney against Google comes as the entertainment industry navigates the complex landscape of intellectual property rights in the age of generative AI. The same day the cease-and-desist was issued, Disney announced a significant, reported $1 billion, three-year agreement with OpenAI. This separate strategic deal is structured to permit OpenAI's Sora AI video generator to incorporate characters from Disney's extensive portfolio, including those from its animated features and other media properties. The simultaneous announcement of a dispute with one major tech firm over AI copyright and a partnership with another underscores the ongoing efforts by content creators to define the permissible uses of their intellectual property within rapidly evolving AI technologies. Such developments are closely watched across industries where valuable digital assets are increasingly being utilized or replicated by AI systems.
