The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has expressed serious concerns regarding Disney’s new licensing deal with OpenAI, fearing it may facilitate what they describe as “the theft of our work.”
In a communication to its members on Thursday, the union sharply criticized the agreement between Disney and OpenAI.
“Disney’s partnership with OpenAI seems to authorize the misuse of our creative work, allowing substantial value derived from what we produce to be transferred to tech companies that benefit from our contributions,” the union stated. They also indicated they plan to meet with Disney to discuss the specifics of the deal, particularly how user-generated content might incorporate the work of WGA members. “We are committed to defending the creative and financial interests of our members as AI technology evolves.”
OpenAI’s three-year licensing agreement with Sora permits users to “create videos in response to prompts featuring over 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters.” Sora and ChatGPT Images are scheduled to begin producing “fan-centric” videos with these characters in early 2026, as reported.
Alongside this, Disney pledged to make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI as part of the arrangement. Notably, the contract does not encompass the use of actors’ likenesses, talents, or voices, which would necessitate a separate agreement.
The WGA pointed out, “Companies like OpenAI have appropriated extensive collections of works created by our members and other Hollywood professionals to inform their artificial intelligence systems. We have consistently urged studios to take legal measures to defend the valuable intellectual property that we help create.”
An OpenAI representative referred to the collaboration with Disney as “revolutionary,” highlighting how AI firms and the creative sector can cooperate to develop robust standards for responsible AI use in entertainment.
SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, announced it will “closely monitor” the unfolding situation. They clarified, “SAG-AFTRA will keep an eye on the contract and its execution to guarantee compliance with laws that protect contract rights, image, voice, and likeness. Our members are acutely aware of the increasing use of intellectual property and personal attributes by generative AI technologies, and we are committed to overseeing such applications.”
“We value the independent engagement of Disney and OpenAI regarding this issue, as well as their commitments to ensure adherence to their contractual and legal responsibilities to performers while promoting the ethical and responsible application of this technology.”
