Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200+ characters for Sora video generator
90 Sources
[1]
Disney invests $1 billion in OpenAI, licenses 200 characters for AI video app Sora
On Thursday, The Walt Disney Company announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI and a three-year licensing agreement that will allow users of OpenAI's Sora video generator to create short clips featuring more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. It's the first major content
[2]
Disney's OpenAI deal is exclusive for just one year -- then it's open season | TechCrunch
Disney's three-year licensing partnership with OpenAI includes just one of exclusivity, Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC. The company signed the partnership with OpenAI last week that will bring its iconic characters to the AI firm's Sora video generator. Once that exclusive year is up, Disney is free
[3]
Disney and OpenAI have made a surprise deal - what happens next?
In a stunning reversal, Disney has changed tack with regard to safeguarding its copyrighted characters from incorporation into AI tools - perhaps a sign that no one can stem the tide of AI The world's best-known AI company and the world's best-known entertainment firm have come to a surprise
[4]
The Disney-OpenAI Deal Redefines the AI Copyright War
On Thursday, Disney and OpenAI announced a deal that might have seemed unthinkable not so long ago. Starting next year, OpenAI will be able to use Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Ariel, and Yoda in its Sora video-generation model. Disney will take a $1 billion stake in OpenAI, and its
[5]
Disney signs deal with OpenAI to allow Sora to generate AI videos featuring its characters
The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that it has signed a three-year partnership with OpenAI that will bring its iconic characters to the company's Sora AI video generator. Disney is also making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. Launched in September, Sora allows users to create
[6]
Disney's $1B Deal With OpenAI Will Bring Iconic Characters to Sora AI Videos
Disney is bringing its catalog of iconic characters, from Marvel to Star Wars and Pixar, to OpenAI's Sora AI social media app, the company announced on Thursday. That means Sora users will soon be able to generate AI videos featuring any of Disney's included characters, with no fear of copyright
[7]
Disney wants to drag you into the slop
Disney and OpenAI's new $1 billion partnership feels emblematic of the terrible times we're living through. In exchange for access to the generative AI firm's APIs and tools like ChatGPT, the studio plans to let users of OpenAI's Sora AI video generator create clips featuring hundreds of
[8]
OpenAI Deal With Disney Will Bring 200+ Characters to Sora, ChatGPT
OpenAI and Disney have signed a three-year content licensing deal that lets Sora users generate videos featuring 200+ Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. The deal protects OpenAI from IP lawsuits involving fictional Disney characters across Sora and ChatGPT. On Sora, users can view
[9]
Disney, OpenAI sign video, image generation licensing deal
Amid controversy over its ability to generate content with copyrighted characters, OpenAI has struck a three-year deal with Disney to license more than 200 Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters for use in Sora videos and ChatGPT Images. Disney and OpenAI revealed the pact in a Thursday
[10]
Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, Strikes Licensing Deal
Walt Disney Co. agreed to invest $1 billion in OpenAI and license iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella for use on the startup's short-form, artificial intelligence video platform. As part of the new three-year pact, OpenAI's Sora will be able to draw from from a library of more than
[11]
OpenAI's billion-dollar Disney deal puts Mickey Mouse and Marvel in Sora
A new three-year licensing agreement announced between Disney and ChatGPT operator OpenAI will allow the Sora video generator to create "user-prompted social videos" that feature more than 200 characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars. According to OpenAI's blog post announcing the
[12]
CNBC Exclusive: Transcript: Disney CEO Bob Iger and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Speak with CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" Today
Following is the unofficial transcript of a CNBC exclusive interview with Disney CEO Bob Iger and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on CNBC's "Squawk on the Street" (M-F, 9AM-11AM ET) today, Thursday, December 11. Following are links to video on CNBC.com:
[13]
Disney's deal with OpenAI is about controlling the future of copyright
This morning Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing agreement: Starting in 2026, ChatGPT and Sora can generate images and videos incorporating Disney IP, including more than 200 characters from the company's stable of Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel brands. To say these companies make for
[14]
Disney invests $1B in OpenAI in deal to bring characters like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool
Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will bring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video generation tool, in a licensing deal that the two companies announced on Thursday. The agreement makes the Walt Disney Co. the first major content
[15]
OpenAI makes deal to bring Disney characters to ChatGPT and Sora
The move comes as OpenAI faces mounting questions about how its rapidly advancing tech is used - and as anxiety in Hollywood increases over the impact of AI on the creative industries. According to a blog post announcing the news, the list of eligible characters include those from Disney films
[16]
Disney Agrees to Bring Its Characters to OpenAI's Sora Videos
In a watershed moment for Hollywood and generative artificial intelligence, Disney on Thursday announced an agreement to bring its characters to Sora, OpenAI's short-form video platform. Videos made with Sora will be available to stream on Disney+ as part of the three-year deal. Disney also said
[17]
Disney strikes $1 billion deal with OpenAI to bring Mickey, Marvel, and more to generative video platform
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. What just happened? The Walt Disney Company has announced a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI as part of a broader partnership that will allow users of OpenAI's video-generation platform, Sora,
[18]
Hollywood's Labor Unions Respond to Disney's Dystopian New AI Deal
Yesterday, Disney announced an alliance with OpenAI that will allow over 200 of the company's characters (including some from Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars) to be hoovered into the Sora video platform and ChatGPT imagery. We knew Disney was planning on plunging into the realm of generative
[19]
Disney gives the green light for AI to ruin all your favorite characters
The deal will see Disney purchase equity in OpenAI, making it part owner. Disney has been pretty litigious when it comes to AI platforms appropriating its intellectual property. In June, the company sued AI image generator Midjourney, seeking to stop the platform from creating images using
[20]
Disney making $1 billion investment in OpenAI, will allow characters on Sora AI video generator
The Walt Disney Company on Thursday announced it will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and will allow users to make videos with its copyrighted characters on Sora. OpenAI launched Sora in September, and it allows users to create short videos by simply typing in a prompt. As part of of
[21]
OpenAI and Disney reach 'landmark agreement' to license characters on Sora - 9to5Mac
Disney characters are coming to OpenAI's Sora video generation app -- this time, with permission. OpenAI and Disney just announced a "landmark agreement" that will see some Sora content appear on Disney+. The deal is part of an overall $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI by Disney. The
[22]
Disney Invests $1 Billion in the AI Slopification of Its Brand
With OpenAI investment, Disney will officially begin putting AI slop into its flagship streaming product. The first thing I saw this morning when I opened X was an AI-generated trailer for Avengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom stood in a shapeless void alongside Captain America and
[23]
I'm a former Disney employee -- here's why the $1B deal with OpenAI is different than people think
Every Disney employee -- or as the company calls them, a "cast member" -- goes through extensive training on the Disney way. To this day, I still pick up random pieces of trash or my kids' toys using the "Disney swoop" -- a simple bend at the knee, reaching down without breaking stride. And if I
[24]
Disney reaches billion-dollar licensing deal with OpenAI
If you've ever wanted to conjure up a scenario between yourself, Han Solo and the crew from Zootopia, you're in luck. The Walt Disney Company has reached a licensing agreement with OpenAI that brings Disney characters and images to Sora, the artificial intelligence company's short-form-video
[25]
Disney's AI Slop Era Is Here
When Bob Iger eagerly told investors that slop was on the menu at the House of Mouse last month, the Disney CEO mentioned that the studio was in talks with a major generative AI company to power its reckless new era. It's no longer talks: Disney's disastrous turn into the AI bubble is here. This
[26]
Here's what the OpenAI and Disney AI deal means to you, and why you should be worried
The deal raises questions around freedom and artistic opportunity that are currently unaddressed The Mouse has entered the prompt box, not to mention all his friends. The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have signed a deal that will see hundreds of Disney's beloved characters, props, vehicles, and
[27]
Disney CEO Bob Iger: OpenAI deal isn't a threat to creatives
The House of Mouse recently announced a surprise $1 billion deal with OpenAI, which will bring about 200 Disney characters, props, and other copyrighted items to ChatGPT and Sora, OpenAI's AI chatbot and video app. So, if you've ever wanted to make a video of yourself hanging out with Deadpool and
[28]
The dos and don'ts of Disney's Sora agreement
Why it matters: Disney's move to solidify itself as the first major content licensing partner on Sora marks a stunning endorsement of AI-generated content -- and signals Disney's openness to "responsible" use of the emerging tech. Driving the news: As part of the deal, Disney will make a $1
[29]
Disney wants you to AI-generate yourself into your favorite Marvel movie
The media company is investing $1bn in OpenAI - and allowing its characters to be used in generated videos Users of OpenAI's video generation app will soon be able to see their own faces alongside characters from Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Disney's animated films, according to a joint
[30]
People Are Already Creating Ghoulishly Horrifying Sora Disney Videos
On Thursday, Disney announced a landmark partnership with OpenAI to license its iconic characters and properties to be used to generate clips on Sora, OpenAI's video generating app, starting in 2026. It's the first major licensing deal between OpenAI and a major Hollywood studio, and will include
[31]
'We're not just going to want to be fed AI slop for 16 hours a day': Analyst sees Disney/OpenAI deal as a dividing line in entertainment history | Fortune
Nicholas Grous, director of research for consumer internet and fintech at Ark Invest, told Fortune tools like Sora effectively recreate the "YouTube moment" for video production, handing professional‑grade creation capabilities to anyone with a prompt instead of a studio budget. In his view, that
[32]
Disney makes $1 billion investment in OpenAI, sends iconic characters to the slophouse
Remember earlier this year when a bunch of Disney characters and civil rights activists were being puppeteered on social media by generative AI prompts? Disney sent a cease-and-desist to Character.ai, accusing the platform of ripping off its copyrighted characters in what, at the time, seemed like
[33]
Disney just bet $1B on OpenAI -- and it's bringing Mickey, Iron Man and Darth Vader to Sora
A galaxy of characters is coming to Sora, and Disney+ could become home to the best AI-generated fan content In one of the boldest Hollywood-tech mashups we've seen yet, Disney is officially joining forces with OpenAI -- and the deal is about way more than money. The Walt Disney Company announced
[34]
Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI under new licensing agreement
Walt Disney Co. is investing $1 billion in OpenAI under a new commercial partnership with the ChatGPT and Sora developer. The three-year licensing agreement will allow users of Sora, OpenAI's artificial intelligence video tool, to create AI videos using more than 200 characters from Disney,
[35]
Disney to invest $1bn in OpenAI to let fans create AI videos
One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Walt Disney and OpenAI agreed a three-year licensing deal on Thursday allowing users to generate short videos featuring Disney characters with
[36]
Disney deal with OpenAI brings Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool
OpenAI said the agreement with Walt Disney was part of a push to ensure the rights of creators in the generative AI space - amid growing concerns over copyright, deepfakes and misinformation. Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will bring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and
[37]
Disney quaffs the Kool-Aid with a $1 billion investment in OpenAI that will see its most iconic characters used to generate AI slop
Disney has announced a deal that will see the House of Mouse invest $1 billion in OpenAI, as well as allow many of its characters to be used in ChatGPT and video tool Sora. This is the first such licensing deal between one of the major studios and an AI company, and comes less than a month after
[38]
Disney strikes deal with OpenAI to let Sora generate AI videos of its characters
The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that it had reached a three-year agreement with OpenAI to bring its popular characters to the company's Sora AI video generator. Disney will also make a $1 billion investment in the ChatGPT owner. The company says it will also become a "major customer"
[39]
Disney Will Now Let You Make AI Slop of Its Characters on Sora
Sora users have already made fake Disney videos that are wildly offensive, and this may only add fuel to the fire. If you've engaged in any sort of doomscrolling over the past year, you've no doubt encountered some wild AI-generated content. While there are plenty of AI video generators out there
[40]
Disney and OpenAI are set to open the vault to Sora -- yet an AI Mickey feels like magic lost
This is bold: The Walt Disney Company has struck a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI, which will allow Sora, the AI video generation tool, to use classic Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters. Additionally, Disney's making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI - with the
[41]
Disney's $1 billion deal with OpenAI will bring Disney characters to Sora
Disney is also becoming a major user of OpenAI. Credit: Getty images/Sopa images Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI, the entertainment giant announced on Thursday. As part of the deal, OpenAI users will be able to create AI images and videos featuring some of Disney's copyrighted
[42]
Disney's landmark OpenAI deal comes as AI battle rages
Why it matters: Content companies have been racking up notable legal wins against AI firms as they present strong cases around fair use. * Reuters' landmark victory against competitor Ross Intelligence in February set a new precedent around whether AI companies can use real-time intellectual
[43]
Disney to invest $1bn in OpenAI, allowing use of characters in video generation tool
Agreement comes amid anxiety in Hollywood over impact of AI on the industry, expression and rights of creators Walt Disney has announced a $1bn equity investment in OpenAI, enabling the AI start-up's Sora video generation tool to use its characters. Users of Sora will be able to generate short,
[44]
As Disney takes sides in the AI copyright wars, is it worth gambling the House of Mouse on OpenAI?
If you were one of those cynical souls who feared that OpenAI was a bit of a Mickey Mouse company, well, Disney just confirmed your suspicions to the tune of $1 billion - and a major gamble with its brand values. Meanwhile Google has been cast in the role of the AI Wicked Queen with threats of
[45]
OpenAI nabs $1B investment from Disney as part of character licensing deal - SiliconANGLE
OpenAI nabs $1B investment from Disney as part of character licensing deal OpenAI Group PBC has secured a $1 billion investment from The Walt Disney Co. as part of a deal that will also see it license key intellectual property from the entertainment giant. The companies announced the partnership
[46]
Disney gives OpenAI's Sora access to more than 200 characters
Disney is also making a $1bn equity investment in OpenAI. Disney has agreed to license out many of its iconic characters to OpenAI's Sora and ChatGPT. The three-year licensing deal would see users gaining access to more than 200 copyrighted characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars,
[47]
Disney Plans $1 Bn Investment in OpenAI, to Bring Over 200 Characters to Sora | AIM
Under the agreement, Sora will generate short videos based on user prompts, using a library of cartoon and comic characters. Even as the entertainment industry is reshaping, with Netflix announcing plans to acquire Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company on Thursday announced it has entered into a
[48]
Disney will open up its toy chest of 200+ characters for AI creators in a $1 billion deal with OpenAI
Fans will soon be able to create short-form generative AI videos featuring more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters thanks to a three-year agreement that The Walt Disney Co. inked Thursday with OpenAI. In addition to a $1 billion equity investment in the tech company, Disney
[49]
Disney Strikes Huge Deal With OpenAI: Get Ready for Sora Videos of Donald Duck Cooking Meth
Famous copyright tyrant Disney is now bending over for the AI industry and signing away its precious intellectual property. On Thursday, the entertainment conglomerate announced a new licensing agreement with OpenAI that will allow it to use Disney's iconic characters and properties to generate
[50]
'Creativity is the new productivity': Bob Iger on why Disney chose to be 'aggressive,' adding OpenAI as a $1 billion partner | Fortune
In a landmark move that signals a definitive shift in how major media conglomerates approach artificial intelligence (AI), OpenAI has gone from the company that had unapproved Disney princesses being made from its tools to a $1 billion partnership with the house of mouse itself. Disney CEO Bob Iger
[51]
OpenAI bags Disney characters for Sora short video app
OpenAI's boss says the licensing agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation. OpenAI has signed its first major licensing deal to bring well-known characters to life on its Sora video generation tool. The company said the agreement
[52]
Disney licenses characters to OpenAI Sora for one-year exclusive
Disney signed a three-year licensing partnership with OpenAI last week, granting the company one year of exclusivity to use its characters on the Sora video generator before pursuing similar deals with other AI firms. The agreement provides OpenAI with legal access to more than 200 characters
[53]
Disney to invest $1.5b in OpenAI and license characters for videos
Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Walt Disney agreed to invest $US1 billion ($1.5 billion) in OpenAI and license iconic characters like Mickey Mouse and Cinderella for use on the startup's short-form, artificial intelligence video platform. As part of the new
[54]
Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI, permit use of characters on AI video generator
The Walt Disney Company on Thursday announced plans to invest $1 billion in artificial intelligence company OpenAI, in a deal that will grant the company access to copyrighted characters from "Star Wars," Marvel and other properties for users of AI short-form video generator Sora. "The rapid
[55]
Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI under new licensing agreement
Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. She previously worked at "60 Minutes," CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the CBS News Associate Program. Walt Disney Co. is investing $1 billion in OpenAI under a new commercial partnership with the ChatGPT and Sora developer. The
[56]
Disney, OpenAI strike landmark deal to let fans create AI-generated videos
One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Walt Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing deal Thursday that will allow users to create short videos featuring beloved Disney characters
[57]
Mickey Mouse meets ChatGPT: Disney signs short video deal with OpenAI
Disney has signed a deal with OpenAI to let the firm's video generation tool produce short videos featuring more than 200 Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars characters. The Walt Disney Company has announced a sweeping partnership with OpenAI that will see it take a $1bn (€852mn) stake in the
[58]
Walt Disney to invest $1 billion in OpenAI, license characters for Sora
Why it matters: It's a huge endorsement of AI-created content from one of the biggest media companies in the world. Zoom in: As part of the agreement, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI. It will also receive warrants to buy additional shares. * Under the arrangement, social
[59]
Disney Invests $1B in OpenAI in Deal to Bring Characters Like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI Video Tool
Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will bring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video generation tool, in a licensing deal that the two companies announced on Thursday. The agreement makes the Walt Disney Co. the first major content
[60]
Disney inks billion-dollar deal with OpenAI
The Walt Disney Company made a major push further into artificial intelligence on Thursday, announcing a licensing agreement with OpenAI that gives it access to Disney's vast library of content and characters. The three-year deal, worth an estimated $1 billion, will allow consumers to use the Sora
[61]
Disney Is Feeding Your Favorite Characters To The OpenAI Woodchipper For $1 Billion - Kotaku
Do you wanna build a slopman with Han Solo from Star Wars and Elsa from Frozen? The Walt Disney Company and tech bro Sam Altman’s OpenAI have signed a massive deal that will allow users to create AI slop videos centered around their favorite Disney characters starting early next year. News of
[62]
OpenAI and Disney just ended the 'war' between AI and Hollywood with their $1 billion Sora deal -- and OpenAI made itself 'indispensable,' expert says | Fortune
"AI companies are either in a position where they need to aggressively filter user prompts and model outputs to make sure that they don't accidentally show Darth Vader, or strike deals with the rights holders to get permission to make videos and images of Darth Vader," Sag told Fortune. "The
[63]
Disney Is Keeping Its Options Open For Future AI Partnerships
The letter accuses Google's AI systems of copyright infringement Disney's partnership with OpenAI is reportedly exclusive for just one year. The revelation was made by the company CEO, Robert A. Iger, during an interview, who also shared the media conglomerate's plans in the artificial
[64]
Disney Wanted a 'Way In' to AI. Its CEO Thinks It Got One With OpenAI Deal
Disney and OpenAI on Thursday announced a three-year licensing agreement to bring Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel characters to OpenAI's image and video generation tools. Darth Vader, Captain America, and Mickey Mouse are coming to ChatGPT. The Walt Disney Company (DIS) and OpenAI announced a
[65]
Disney and OpenAI strike a deal that will allow users to generate videos of Disney Princesses, Darth Vader, Mickey Mouse, Deadpool, and more
The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have struck a deal in which Disney will buy a $1 billion stake in the company. Disney will also allow the generation of imagery featuring the studio giant's many characters (though not actors or likenesses) through video platform Sora and ChatGPT. The agreement
[66]
OpenAI, Disney to let fans create AI videos in landmark deal
San Francisco (United States) (AFP) - Walt Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing deal Thursday that will allow users to create short videos featuring beloved Disney characters through artificial intelligence. The deal marks the first time a major entertainment company has embraced
[67]
AI-bubble fear is myth? Disney becomes major ChatGPT customer after signing $1 billion equity investment deal with OpenAI
OpenAI-Disney tie-up will also cover image generation on ChatGPT, drawing from the same Disney intellectual property. Walt Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video and image generator, a
[68]
Disney Strikes Deal With OpenAI To Let Sora Generate AI Videos of Its Characters
The Walt Disney Company announced on Thursday that it had reached a three-year agreement with OpenAI to bring its popular characters to the company's Sora AI video generator. Disney will also make a $1 billion investment in the ChatGPT owner. The company says it will also become a "major customer"
[69]
Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI Fantasia
Israel Can Compete in Eurovision After Organizers Decided Not to Vote on a Ban Because everything these days seems to be A.I. (except Rolling Stone articles, which are still written by humans -- hey there, hi there, ho there), Disney has invested $1 billion in equity in OpenAI. The company also
[70]
Disney's Next Big Billion Dollar Bet Is On AI - Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS)
Disney is ushering in a new wave of creative magic, teaming up with OpenAI to bring its legendary characters and worlds into a fresh era of AI-powered storytelling. The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) announced Thursday that it has entered a multiyear partnership with OpenAI that could redefine how
[71]
Sora Users Can Now Generate AI Videos Featuring Disney Characters
Agreement excludes actor voices and likeness rights in generated content OpenAI and The Walt Disney Company have reached a three-year licensing and investment agreement that will allow users to create short, artificial intelligence (AI)-generated videos featuring more than 200 Disney characters on
[72]
Disney CEO Bob Iger Says OpenAI Deal Gives Entertainment Giant 'A Way In' to AI
Disney and OpenAI on Thursday announced a three-year licensing agreement to bring Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel characters to OpenAI's image and video generation tools. Darth Vader, Captain America, and Mickey Mouse are coming to ChatGPT. The Walt Disney Company (DIS) and OpenAI announced a
[73]
Bob Iger says Disney's $1 billion deal with OpenAI is an 'opportunity, not a threat': 'We'd rather participate than be disrupted by it' | Fortune
Disney is investing $1 billion in OpenAI and is giving the go-ahead for its iconic characters like Mickey Mouse to be used in the AI short-form video app Sora. The two companies announced a three-year deal that would bring more than 200 characters to Sora with a period of exclusivity for part of
[74]
This $200 Billion Streaming Giant Is Partnering With a Top AI Company (Hint: It's Not Nvidia) | The Motley Fool
Businesses in different industries are starting to leverage the power of artificial intelligence. Despite fears of a possible bubble bursting, artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that increasingly looks like it's not going away. There are already businesses winning the AI race, whether
[75]
Disney bets $1 billion on OpenAI, bringing Mickey, Marvel and more to Sora - The Economic Times
Disney will invest $1 billion in OpenAI as part of a landmark partnership that will bring more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters to Sora, the AI firm's video generation tool. The three-year deal will also see Disney use OpenAI's technology across its products and deploy
[76]
Here's What You Really Need to Know About the Disney-OpenAI Deal
Can something be expected but huge? That's what Disney's OpenAI deal is: the most inevitable bombshell around, but still a bombshell. On Thursday the country's biggest legacy entertainment company announced that it would be partnering with OpenAI to allow its characters to be toyed with in AI.
[77]
Disney's $1 Billion Bet: A Licensing Model With OpenAI for User Content | PYMNTS.com
By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. This is more than a creative collaboration; it's a new intellectual property
[78]
OpenAI partners with Disney to bring Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar characters to Sora
OpenAI and The Walt Disney Company have reached a mutual agreement for Disney to become the first major content licensing partner on Sora, OpenAI's short-form generative AI video platform. This is a landmark agreement with Disney, one of the world's largest creative mass media firms, allowing
[79]
Disney and OpenAI Are Teaming Up. Here's What It Means for Investors. | The Motley Fool
Disney is investing $1 billion in the AI start-up and will leverage its generative AI video platform. Less than a week after the Warner Bros. Discovery-Netflix deal sent shockwaves through Hollywood, another deal is threatening to upend the entertainment industry. Walt Disney Co (DIS +2.43%) said
[80]
Has Disney sold its soul in deal with OpenAI's Sora?
Just months ago, it seemed Disney might make a stand for artists everywhere when it sued Midjourney, the company behind one of the most popular AI image generators. But it's become clear that the animation giant doesn't have a problem with AI per se; it was just waiting for a deal so it could get
[81]
Bob Iger: Disney's OpenAI Deal "Does Not In Any Way" Threaten Creatives
Disney Taps Former Apple COO Jeff Williams to Join Board of Directors Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger said Thursday that the company's blockbuster deal with OpenAI was about reacting to the reality of technological disruption, and that the agreement provides a framework for AI companies to value and
[82]
Personality Rights Left Out of Disney's Licensing Deal With Sora
MediaNama's Take: OpenAI's assumption that every piece of online content belongs to its AI models and products, unless original copyright owners actively opt out, is exploitative and should be reversed. However, Disney's three‑year licence with Sora grants access to over 200 characters while
[83]
Disney invests US$1B in OpenAI in deal to bring characters like Mickey Mouse to Sora AI video tool
Disney is investing US$1 billion in OpenAI and will bring characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella and Luke Skywalker to the AI company's Sora video generation tool, in a licensing deal that the two companies announced on Thursday. At the same time, Disney went after Google, demanding the tech
[84]
Disney to let users make AI videos featuring beloved characters in...
The Walt Disney Company said Thursday it will invest $1 billion in OpenAI in a deal that will allow users to churn out AI videos with copyrighted characters from "Star Wars" and more through the artificial intelligence firm's Sora app. The announcement of the deal -- which seems poised to flood
[85]
Disney Gets a Lift as OpenAI Deal Adds a New Layer to Its Long-Term Growth Story | Investing.com UK
Walt Disney Company shares surged following the announcement of a landmark $1 billion investment in OpenAI, coupled with a groundbreaking three-year licensing agreement that will bring Disney's beloved characters to OpenAI's Sora AI video generator and ChatGPT Images platform. The partnership,
[86]
Disney Says It Will 'Thoughtfully and Responsibly Extend' Its Storytelling Through Generative AI Use With $1 Billion OpenAI Deal That Licenses 200 Characters Including Mickey Mouse, Luke Skywalker, Captain America and Elsa From Frozen - IGN
Disney has agreed to license 200 of its most beloved characters for use in Sora's generative AI videos, alongside a $1 billion investment in OpenAI. The three-year deal will allow users to generate short-form videos featuring Disney icons such as Mickey Mouse, Pixar favorites such as Woody, Marvel
[87]
Disney to invest US$1 billion in OpenAI, license characters for Sora AI tool
Walt Disney is investing US$1 billion in OpenAI and will let the startup use characters from Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel franchises in its Sora AI video and image generator, a crucial deal that could reshape how Hollywood makes content. The partnership announced on Thursday is a pivotal step in
[88]
Disney to license characters for OpenAI's Sora video tool
STORY: Walt Disney announced a deal with OpenAI that will let users of its Sora AI video generator to make videos with characters from Star Wars, Pixar and other movie franchises. Disney is also investing $1 billion in OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. The three-year partnership could reshape
[89]
Disney invests $1bn in OpenAI and opens access to its characters on Sora
On Thursday Walt Disney announced a $1bn investment in OpenAI, sealing a 3-year strategic partnership focused on generative artificial intelligence. The deal will enable users of the Sora platform, a text-to-video tool launched in September, to create content featuring over 200 characters from the
[90]
Pixar animation with GenAI: Disney and OpenAI Sora deal, will it deliver real emotion?
User generated AI videos on Disney Plus using Pixar characters For decades, the "Pixar touch" has been the gold standard in animation. It is defined by a meticulous, almost obsessive attention to detail where every frame is crafted to evoke a specific feeling. From the opening montage of Up to the
Share
Copy Link
Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year partnership allowing Sora users to create videos with Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader, and 200+ Disney characters. The $1 billion deal marks a dramatic reversal from Disney's previous resistance to AI platforms and signals a potential turning point in Hollywood's approach to generative AI and intellectual property rights.
Disney Strikes Historic Partnership with OpenAI for Character Access
The Walt Disney Company announced a $1 billion investment in OpenAI alongside a three-year licensing agreement that grants users of the Sora AI video generator access to more than 200 Disney characters
1
. Starting in early 2026, users will be able to create short videos featuring iconic Disney characters including Mickey Mouse, Darth Vader, Iron Man, Simba, and characters from franchises like Frozen, Inside Out, Toy Story, and The Mandalorian5
. The agreement extends to ChatGPT Images, allowing Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters, costumes, props, vehicles, and environments to officially pass through OpenAI's content moderation filters1
.
Source: Digit
From Adversary to Partner in the AI Copyright War
The Disney OpenAI deal represents a stunning reversal in the entertainment giant's stance on generative AI. Just months earlier, Disney and other major studios refused to participate in Sora 2 following its September 30 launch, when OpenAI's policy allowed copyrighted characters to appear unless rights holders explicitly opted out
1
. The Creative Artists Agency called it a "significant risk" while United Talent Agency labeled it "exploitation, not innovation"1
. Sam Altman reversed course within days, promising rights holders "more granular control" and floating a revenue-sharing model1
. This agreement resolves what legal scholars call the "Snoopy problem"—the tension around AI model outputs where even if a company tells a model not to produce specific characters, the model might know enough to do so anyway4
.Exclusive Access and Strategic Implications
Bob Iger told CNBC that the three-year licensing agreement includes just one year of exclusivity, after which Disney is free to sign similar deals with other AI companies
2
. "No human generation has ever stood in the way of technological advance, and we don't intend to try," Iger stated2
. For OpenAI, the partnership provides a high-profile content partner and validates its approach to responsible AI development. Disney will become a major customer of OpenAI, deploying ChatGPT for employees and using OpenAI's technology to build new features for Disney+1
. A curated selection of fan-made Sora videos will stream on Disney+ starting in early 20261
.
Source: MediaNama
Protecting Likeness Rights While Embracing Innovation
The agreement notably excludes any talent likenesses or voices, addressing concerns from actors and their representatives
1
. Both companies committed to "maintaining robust controls to prevent the generation of illegal or harmful content" and to "respect the rights of individuals to appropriately control the use of their voice and likeness"1
. OpenAI partnered with actor Bryan Cranston and SAG-AFTRA in October to implement safety guardrails around likeness rights1
.Related Stories
Selective Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
While embracing OpenAI, Disney maintains an aggressive stance against other AI platforms. The same day the OpenAI partnership was announced, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, accusing the company of "infringing Disney's copyrights on a massive scale"
1
. Disney also sued Midjourney in June alongside Universal over outputs allegedly infringing on classic film and TV characters4
. Matthew Sag, a professor of law and artificial intelligence at Emory University, notes that "AI companies and copyright holders are beginning to understand and become reconciled to the fact that neither side is going to score an absolute victory"4
. Hollywood appears to be following a path similar to media publishers, signing content licensing agreements where possible and using litigation when necessary4
.What This Means for Hollywood and Beyond
Experts view the equity investment and partnership as a signal that major copyright holders see no way to hold back AI tools entirely
3
. "It shows that companies like Disney appear to think that it's impossible to stem the tide of AI," says Rebecca Williams at the University of South Wales3
. Ty Martin at licensing company Copyrightish believes other AI companies will follow suit: "Licensing becomes the engine of quality. AI platforms with access to strong, recognisable IP will cut through the slop trough"3
. The deal creates interesting dynamics between a company that shaped modern US copyright policy through congressional lobbying and one that argued useful AI models cannot be created without copyrighted material1
.
Source: Creative Bloq
References
Summarized by
Navi
[2]
[3]
Related Stories
Disney Plus Plans AI-Generated Content Features as Part of Major Platform Overhaul
13 Nov 2025•Entertainment and Society
Disney and NBCUniversal Sue Midjourney: A Landmark Case in AI Copyright and Creative Ownership
11 Jul 2025•Policy and Regulation
Disney Takes Legal Action Against Character.AI Over Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Characters
01 Oct 2025•Policy and Regulation
Recent Highlights
1
OpenAI Claims AI Math Breakthrough on Navier-Stokes, Sparks Controversy Over Credit and Future of Research
Science and Research
2
Anthropic Researcher Quits, Warns Self-Improving AI Poses Existential Risk to Humanity
Policy and Regulation
3
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Declares AGI Has Arrived With OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra Release
Technology
Recent Highlights
Today's Top Stories
Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Follow topics that matter to you and stay ahead.
