Disney, known for its "strongest legal department in the Western Hemisphere," has historically been extremely protective of its intellectual property. However, in the current AI revolution, it has clearly chosen a different approach. Disney earlier...AnnounceDisney has reached a landmark agreement with OpenAI, under which Disney will make a $10 billion equity investment in OpenAI and receive warrants to purchase more equity in the future.
The two parties will embark on a three-year in-depth collaboration, licensing more than 200 of their classic characters for use in OpenAI's Sora video generation and ChatGPT Images image generation, which is expected to be officially available to fans in early 2026.
Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars are all unleashed, even lightsabers and shields can be used.
According to official information, OpenAI's Sora (short videos) and ChatGPT Images (still images) will be able to legally use more than 200 characters from brands such as Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars.
The list includes not only classic animated characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Simba, and Belle, but also popular modern IPs like Frozen, Zootopia, and Brain Teasers. In the Marvel and Star Wars section, heavyweight characters such as Iron Man, Thor, Thanos, Deadpool, Darth Vader, Yoda, and the Mandalorian are all included.
The licensing is not limited to the character itself, but also includes costumes, props, vehicles, and classic scenes and environments, meaning that fans can use AI to generate images of "Deadpool fighting with a lightsaber in a Disney castle" in the future.
Upholding the bottom line of "real people" and protecting the rights of creators.
However, Disney has erected an absolute firewall regarding the rights of "humans," with the agreement explicitly stipulating that the scope of authorization does not include the likeness or voice of any live-action actors. This is clearly in response to Hollywood unions' concerns about AI digital doubles, ensuring that the rights of actors such as Robert Downey Jr. or Mark Hamill are not infringed.
Fan-created content can be streamed? Selected videos from Sora will be available on Disney+.
The most interesting application of this collaboration lies in the "reverse output" of content. Disney revealed that starting in early 2026, some high-quality AI short films created by Sora users will be able to be directly broadcast on the Disney+ streaming platform as "curated selections," breaking the tradition of Disney only broadcasting its own content.
In addition, Disney will become a major enterprise customer of OpenAI, using its API to develop new products and tools, and deploying ChatGPT services internally for its employees. Both CEOs, Bob Iger and Sam Altman, endorse this initiative, emphasizing their commitment to promoting human-centered and responsible AI development.
Analysis: Using capital to acquire "control"
In my opinion, Disney's move is an extremely clever strategic shift. Since the trend of AI generation is unstoppable, rather than letting the internet be flooded with low-quality or infringing Mickey Mouse AI videos, it's better to become a major shareholder of OpenAI (through investment and warrants).
Through this $10 billion investment, Disney not only acquired the technology but also the right to set the rules. They defined what AI can and cannot use (virtual characters, props) and what it cannot use (real-life portraits), and incorporated AI-generated content back into their own Disney+ platform, which can generate even more content views.
Since even the Western "copyright powerhouses" have embraced AI, people are wondering whether Nintendo, another company known for its tough stance on copyright protection and nicknamed "the strongest legal department in the Eastern Hemisphere," will also change its resistant attitude towards generative AI. This will be a key point to observe in the future.
