{"id":106859,"date":"2025-12-14T22:37:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T22:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=106859"},"modified":"2025-12-14T22:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T22:37:17","slug":"creative-industries-incredibly-worried-about-openai-disney-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=106859","title":{"rendered":"Creative industries \u2018incredibly worried\u2019 about OpenAI-Disney deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A union representing workers in the creative industries says there is \u201creal concern\u201d among its members about a $1bn (\u00a3740m) deal which will see Disney characters brought to ChatGPT and video-generation tool Sora.<\/p>\n

It is the first major studio to license parts of its catalogue to OpenAI, which makes the tools.<\/p>\n

Fans will be able to generate and share pictures and videos of more than 200 characters from Disney\u2019s franchises, including Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone in the entertainment industry, especially all the creative talent, is incredibly worried about what the implications are,\u201d said Sag-Aftra executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.<\/p>\n

He said the two companies had contacted the union, which represents 170,000 media professionals worldwide, to say the agreement specifically rules out the use of the image, likeness or voice of human performers.<\/p>\n

But he said it was still a worrying development.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s real concern because nobody wants to see human creativity given away to AI models,\u201d he told BBC News.<\/p>\n

\u2018An important moment for our industry\u2019<\/h2>\n

The move comes as OpenAI faces mounting questions about how its rapidly advancing tech is used \u2013 and as anxiety in Hollywood increases over the impact of AI on the creative industries.<\/p>\n

According to a blog post announcing the news, the list of eligible characters include those from Disney films Zootopia, Moana and Encanto \u2013 as well as characters like Star Wars\u2019 Luke Skywalker and Marvel\u2019s Deadpool.<\/p>\n

It, of course, also includes Mickey and Minnie Mouse.<\/p>\n

But quite how the characters will sound remains unclear, as Disney said the agreement \u201cdoes not include any talent likenesses or voices\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry,\u201d Disney boss Bob Iger said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling.\u201d<\/p>\n

People are expected to be able to begin creating videos and images using Sora and ChatGPT in early 2026.<\/p>\n

The deal comes\u00a0amid reports\u00a0Disney lawyers sent Google a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday, accusing the tech firm of infringing its copyrights \u201con a massive scale.<\/span><\/p>\n

The BBC has asked Google for a response.<\/p>\n

Joel Smith, intellectual property partner at law firm Simmons & Simmons, said Disney\u2019s OpenAI deal showed \u201crights owners and major AI developers are moving fast to strike collaborative licensing deals to access content for training and future use.<\/p>\n

Equity, the entertainment trade union, says actors\u2019 rights need to be protected. The group is currently balloting thousands of performers to ask whether they are willing to refuse to be digitally scanned on set to push for stronger AI safeguards.<\/p>\n

Cathy Sweet, Equity\u2019s head of TV and Film, said the deal between Disney and OpenAI reinforced \u201cexactly why our members are fighting for AI protections.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe recorded material that will be sold on as part of this eye-watering big money deal are the result of creatives\u2019 professional work, and their rights must be protected,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Content concerns<\/h2>\n

Sora\u2019s hyper-realistic videos have proven to be popular in the US, but there have been significant criticisms from those claiming it has also led to some people creating offensive deepfakes of dead public figures.<\/p>\n

In October, OpenAI\u00a0paused the video tool\u2019s ability\u00a0to generate images of Dr Martin Luther King Jr after the app produced \u201cdisrespectful\u201d depictions of the civil rights leader.<\/p>\n

The firm acknowledged the need for stronger safeguards after clips emerged showing him saying offensive things, prompting a public outcry.<\/p>\n

Other similar videos of President John F. Kennedy, Queen Elizabeth II and physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking also circulated widely.<\/p>\n

In some cases, family members called on OpenAI to stop allowing videos to be made.<\/p>\n

Zelda Williams, daughter of the late comedian Robin Williams, urged people to\u00a0stop sending her AI-generated videos\u00a0of her father.<\/p>\n

In November, Warner Music Group announced plans\u00a0to launch an AI music venture with technology start-up Suno, a year after it sued the firm in a landmark case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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