Disney hits Google with cease-and-desist claiming ‘massive’ copyright infringement (techcrunch.com)

Disney has issued a cease-and-desist letter to Google, accusing the tech giant of "massive" copyright infringement through its AI models and services. The letter claims Google has commercially distributed unauthorized images and videos of Disney’s iconic characters, asserting that the company's AI systems are using Disney's intellectual property without permission. Disney likened Google's operations to a "virtual vending machine," capable of reproducing and disseminating protected works at scale, with many of these images falsely branded with Google’s Gemini logo. This legal action is significant for the AI/ML community as it raises critical questions about copyright and ownership in the age of artificial intelligence. With the rapid integration of AI in creative sectors, the case may set important precedents regarding how companies use copyrighted material in training AI models. Additionally, the timing of the cease-and-desist coincides with Disney's recent $1 billion, three-year partnership with OpenAI, aimed at integrating Disney's characters into AI-generated content, illustrating the complex dynamics of intellectual property rights in the burgeoning field of AI.