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Disney has raised a strong complaint against Google. The company claims Google’s AI systems are copying Disney content without permission. Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter that demands Google stop “massive” copyright infringement. The letter was sent by the law firm Jenner and Block. It outlines how Google’s AI models generate images and videos that closely resemble Disney’s famous characters.
Disney says Google used Disney-owned works to train models such as Gemini, Imagen, and Veo. These models then create outputs that match characters from Star Wars, Marvel, Frozen, Pixar, and other franchises. Disney says some AI images even show the Gemini logo.
According to the entertainment giant, this creates the false impression that the company approves of it. Disney argued that the AI acts like a “vending machine” that can recreate Disney characters on a huge scale.
Reports say Disney tried to talk to Google for months, but these talks amounted to nothing. The former says the tech giant did not set proper limits on how its AI uses copyrighted material.
The lack of progress pushed Disney to move forward with the cease-and-desist letter. This letter arrived just one day before Disney revealed a one billion dollar AI partnership with OpenAI. The deal shows that Disney supports AI, but only under proper, legal licensing terms.
Google responded that its models are trained on publicly available information online. It also pointed to tools like Content ID and Google-Extended that help creators manage their copyright. The company said it will keep having discussions with Disney about the issue. However, the entertainment leader believes Google must make stronger protections to stop unauthorised use of its work.
Experts say the fight may impact the entire AI industry. Many companies train AI models using online data. However, big studios like Disney want strict control over how their characters are used. If the issue lands in court, the ruling may change how AI companies gather training material. It may force companies to sign licenses with content owners before using copyrighted works.
Disney wants Google to block all unauthorised use of Disney content across all Google AI products. The movie maker also wants Google to prevent future misuse by adding technical barriers. The company says its characters and stories cannot be used without legal approval. Disney also says Google’s massive reach makes the problem even more serious, as AI-generated content spreads widely and quickly.
The conflict marks a major moment in the debate around AI and copyright. AI companies aim to innovate fast. Entertainment giants fight hard to protect long-established brands. The outcome of this dispute may shape how AI, creativity, and copyright interact in the future.
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