Google is acting as per a cease-and-desist letter that it recently received from Disney, asking the former to stop what it alleged is an infringement in the search engine company's AI systems. The letter claimed that the systems infringe on Google's copyrights to a large extent. Accordingly, it has taken down numerous videos featuring Disney characters that are made with AI technology. Recently, Disney and OpenAI entered an agreement, allowing the latter's AI video creator tool Sora to use characters from the former company's Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars franchises. Google's removal of the videos comes hot on the heels of the three-year-long agreement and pertains to the videos featuring Deadpool, Mickey Mouse, Moana and so forth.
A Google representative stated, "We have a longstanding and mutually beneficial relationship with Disney, and will continue to engage with them. More generally, we use public data from the open web to build our AI and have built additional innovative copyright controls like Google-extended and Content ID for YouTube, which give sites and copyright holders control over their content."
Reportedly, Disney is aiming to bring some restrictions on the use of AI, while allowing creative industries to collaborate with innovators provided they respect creators' work and the value that it brings.
