Lawsuits or billion-dollar deals: How Disney picks its AI copyright battles (www.businessinsider.com)

Disney is navigating the complex landscape of AI-generated content by actively protecting its intellectual property while also exploring strategic partnerships. Recently, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing it of using a "pirated library" of Disney characters in its new AI video tool, Seedance 2.0, which allows users to create derivative works without permission. This action underscores Disney's commitment to safeguarding its iconic franchises like Star Wars and Marvel amid an AI industry that often adopts a "ask for forgiveness, not permission" approach. Conversely, Disney has chosen a more collaborative route with OpenAI, striking a three-year licensing agreement that enables Sora users to access 200 Disney characters for content creation, reflecting a willingness to embrace AI as a tool for audience engagement. This duality in strategy illustrates the entertainment giant's recognition of AI's potential to enhance user experiences on platforms like Disney+, while still fiercely defending its copyrights against unauthorized use. As AI technologies continue to evolve, Disney's responses highlight the ongoing tensions between innovation, intellectual property rights, and the operational challenges faced by content creators in the digital age.