Disney’s OpenAI Deal ‘Appears to Sanction’ AI Company’s ‘Theft of Our Work,’ WGA Says

The Writers Guild of America said Disney‘s huge licensing deal with OpenAI appears to “sanction” the AI company’s “theft of our work.”

“Disney’s announcement with OpenAI appears to sanction its theft of our work and cedes the value of what we create to a tech company that has built its business off our backs,” the union said in a message to members Thursday. WGA said it will meet with Disney “to probe the terms of this deal, including the extent to which user-generated videos use the work of WGA members. We will continue to fight to protect our members’ creative and economic interests in the context of AI technology.”

Under Disney’s three-year licensing agreement, OpenAI’s Sora will be able to generate user-prompted videos from a set of more than 200 masked, animated or creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. Sora and ChatGPT Images are expected to start generating “fan-inspired” videos with Disney’s licensed characters in early 2026. In addition, as part of the deal, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI.

According to WGA’s message to members, “Companies including OpenAI have stolen vast libraries of works owned by the studios and created by WGA members and Hollywood labor to train their artificial intelligence systems. We have repeatedly called for the studios to take legal action to defend the valuable intellectual property we help to create.”

Disney said the agreement with OpenAI does not include any talent likenesses or voices. It also does not allow OpenAI to use Disney intellectual property in the training of its AI models.

Asked for comment about WGA’s objection to the deal, an OpenAI rep said that “this is a landmark agreement because it shows how AI companies and the creative industry can work together to establish meaningful standards for responsible AI in entertainment.” Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, alleging Google’s AI platforms have resulted in copyright infringement of Disney IP on a “massive scale.” WGA applauded this move, saying Disney’s cease-and-desist letter to Google recognizes the value of IP that writers help create “and we will continue to pressure the companies to take action.”

SAG-AFTRA, the actor’s union, issued a cautionary statement about the Disney-OpenAI deal, saying it will “closely monitor” the situation.

“SAG-AFTRA will closely monitor the deal and its implementation to ensure compliance with our contracts and with applicable laws protecting image, voice and likeness,” the union said. “SAG-AFTRA members are very focused on the rapidly expanding use of intellectual property and individuals’ likenesses and voices by generative AI tools, and SAG-AFTRA remains vigilant about any such uses.”

SAG-AFTRA continued, “We acknowledge Disney’s and OpenAI’s independent outreaches to us on this matter and their assurances that they will meet their contractual and legal obligations to performers and continue to implement systems to ensure ethical and responsible use of this technology.”

The union said it has engaged in months of “frank discussions” with OpenAI about the protection of performers. “The ongoing dialogue reflects a significant commitment to taking SAG-AFTRA members’ concerns into account in the protective measures applied to image, likeness, voice, performance, and intellectual property rights generally,” the union said.

Meanwhile, regarding Disney’s legal threat to Google over AI, SAG-AFTRA said it “join[s] in the objections raised in Disney’s formal demand letter to Google, putting the company on notice that the mass infringement of copyrighted works must stop. We equally object to the abuse of performers’ images, likenesses, and performances through its systems. Their output guardrails and technical protections are inadequate and must be significantly strengthened. … SAG-AFTRA expects Google and all AI providers to close these gaps and align their practices with both the law and the rights of performers and all creative talent. We know that they can, and we demand that they do.”

Disney characters that will be available for AI-generated creations via the OpenAI pact include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba and Mufasa, as well as characters from movies and franchises including “Encanto,” “Frozen,” “Inside Out,” “Moana,” “Monsters Inc.,” “Toy Story,” “Up” and “Zootopia.” Also covered under the pact are animated and illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters like Black Panther, Captain America, Deadpool, Groot, Iron Man, Loki, Thor, Thanos, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Leia, the Mandalorian, Stormtroopers and Yoda.

On Disney+, users will be able to watch curated selections of Sora-generated videos. OpenAI and Disney also said they will collaborate to use OpenAI’s models to “power new experiences for Disney+ subscribers, furthering innovative and creative ways to connect with Disney’s stories and characters.”