The Walt Disney Company has escalated its legal actions against generative AI platforms, sending a cease and desist letter to Character.AI and demanding the immediate removal of all chatbots impersonating its copyrighted characters. The entertainment giant’s core concern is not just copyright infringement. It’s also about the potential damage to its brand caused by the nature of interactions taking place on the platform.
Disney sends copyright-based cease and desist to Character.AI
Disney’s letter specifically targets chatbots based on its major franchises. The list includes Star Wars, Pixar films, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The use of unauthorized intellectual property (IP) is central to the complaint. But Disney emphasizes that brand reputation is its primary concern.
The letter directly referenced reports indicating that Character.AI chatbots have engaged in “sexually exploitive and otherwise harmful and dangerous” conversations with accounts registered to minors. Disney stated that allowing its protected characters to be used in such a manner is “anathema to the very essence of the Disney brand and legacy.” This also severely damaged the company’s reputation and goodwill, the plaintiff alleges.
Compliance and industry stance
Following the legal demand, a spokesperson for Character.AI indicated swift compliance. The company stated it responds quickly to requests from rightsholders. It also confirmed that the requested Disney characters have been removed from the platform. While all characters on the platform are user-generated, the company maintains that IP owners retain the right to decide how their content is used.
Character.AI also expressed a desire to “partner with the industry” to help IP owners create “controlled, engaging, and revenue-generating experiences” on its platform.
This action against Character.AI is part of a broader, more aggressive legal strategy Disney is pursuing against the AI ​​industry. The entertainment giant, along with studios like NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery, has previously filed lawsuits against other AI companies. The list includes Midjourney and MiniMax, for instance. The central axis of the conflict is over large-scale copyright infringement allegations.
Disney’s stance places the responsibility for policing copyrighted content squarely on the AI platforms themselves. The letter serves as a clear warning that Disney is willing to leverage all necessary legal means to preserve and protect its intellectual property.