{"title": "Disney Inks Multi-Year Pact with OpenAI to Integrate Iconic Characters into AI Platforms", "body": ["Disney has quickly acted on its leader Bob Iger's commitment to incorporate AI-created material into the Disney+ platform. On Thursday, it revealed the launch of a three-year licensing arrangement with OpenAI, enabling access to over 200 iconic figures from franchises like Star Wars and Pixar within the Sora application and ChatGPT. Under this collaboration, individuals using OpenAI's services can instruct ChatGPT to produce visuals drawing from Disney's copyrighted assets, encompassing outfits, accessories, transport, and settings."], ["The pact excludes audio elements or depictions resembling performers, so Sora cannot be directed to create footage featuring Black Widow that resembles Scarlett Johansson. Rather, the tools will limit usage to drawn or animated renditions of figures from Marvel and Star Wars, such as Black Panther, Captain America, Han Solo, and Darth Vader, among others. Disney plans to feature selected Sora-produced enthusiast clips on its streaming service. Access for creating visuals and clips with these characters via Sora and ChatGPT is slated to begin in early 2026."], ["OpenAI's chief executive, Sam Altman, commented: 'Disney sets the worldwide benchmark for narrative excellence, and we're thrilled to collaborate in enhancing how Sora and ChatGPT's image features enable broader content creation and enjoyment.' He added: 'This partnership illustrates the potential for AI firms and content creators to collaborate ethically, fostering societal advancements, honoring artistic value, and extending reach to wider groups.'"], ["Furthermore, Disney has committed to utilizing OpenAI as a client, employing its application programming interfaces to develop fresh offerings, utilities, and interactive features. The entertainment giant will also allocate $1 billion toward OpenAI, including provisions for future share acquisitions. OpenAI has lately reorganized itself into a more conventional revenue-oriented entity, paving the path for a possible public offering within the coming year. Despite their contrasting stances on intellectual property issues, this alliance unites two improbable collaborators."], ["Responses from the media sector varied. The Writers Guild of America, advocating for scriptwriters in movies, TV, and related fields, expressed discontent in a Bluesky post: 'Disney's arrangement with OpenAI seems to endorse the misappropriation of our contributions and transfers the worth of our output to a technology firm that has profited from our efforts. We intend to discuss the agreement's details with Disney, particularly regarding how participant-created videos might incorporate WGA members' material. Our efforts to safeguard our affiliates' artistic and financial rights amid AI advancements will persist.'"], ["The SAG-AFTRA performers' organization, with approximately 160,000 global members, adopted a milder tone. On its website, it shared that Disney and OpenAI have contacted the group to affirm their adherence to agreements and regulations concerning actors. The union stated it intends to 'vigilantly observe the arrangement and its rollout to verify alignment with our pacts and relevant statutes safeguarding performers' images, voices, and appearances.'"]}]