Google has removed dozens of AI-generated videos featuring Disney characters from YouTube after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the entertainment giant. This signals a sharp escalation in tensions between Hollywood and big tech companies over artificial intelligence.
The removal followed a legal notice from Disney accusing Google of infringing its AI training models and services “massively”.
The move comes just days before Disney separately announced a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI worth about $1 billion to allow the use of selected characters in the company's video tool Sora.
The deleted videos included videos featuring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Deadpool and Moana, according to a person familiar with the matter. Google acknowledged its partnership with Disney, but declined to comment on specific enforcement actions.
“We have had a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship with Disney and will continue to do so,” a Google spokesperson told Deadline, adding that the company uses public web data to train its AI systems and provides rights holders with rights controls such as Content ID and Google-Extended.
Disney's letter was sent just before the OpenAI deal was made public, and industry observers say the timing underscores the company's strategy to draw a clear line between authorized and unauthorized use of AI.
A source close to Disney said the OpenAI agreement shows that AI development “doesn't have to be lawless” if companies respect the rights of creators.
