Disney and OpenAI: Strategic Investment and Character Licensing for Sora

Dear clients and friends,

In an effort to drive technological innovation in the creative industry and promote the responsible development of generative artificial intelligence, The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have announced a major strategic agreement combining capital investment with intellectual property licensing.

Below, we outline the most relevant aspects of this agreement:

What does the agreement between Disney and OpenAI consist of?

-            Strategic investment: Disney will make an investment of approximately US$1 billion in OpenAI, consolidating a long-term alliance focused on the development and application of advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

-            Character licensing: As part of the agreement, Disney will authorize the use of iconic characters from its various brands (including film, animation, and entertainment) within Sora, OpenAI’s model for generating videos from text prompts, specifically for the creation of short-form videos.

-            The content will be based on a catalog of more than 200 animated characters, masked characters, and creatures from Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, including iconic costumes, accessories, vehicles, and settings.

These include Mickey and Minnie Mouse; Disney princesses such as Ariel, Belle, and Cinderella; characters from Frozen, Moana, and Toy Story; as well as animated characters from Marvel and Lucasfilm, such as Black Panther, and Star Wars characters like Yoda. However, the agreement does not include the image or voice of any individual talent.

What is Sora and why is it relevant?

Sora is an artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI that enables the creation of realistic and creative videos from written descriptions, opening new possibilities in visual storytelling, advertising, education, and digital entertainment.

The incorporation of globally recognized characters enhances the creative potential of the tool, while also raising relevant legal and regulatory challenges in the areas of intellectual property and responsible content use.

Scope and implications of the agreement

This agreement represents:

• A direct integration between generative AI technology and high-value intellectual property.
• New opportunities for the creation of innovative audiovisual content.
• A significant precedent in the licensing of brands and characters within artificial intelligence environments.
• The need for clear guidelines regarding authorized use, creative control, and rights protection.

Key legal and strategic considerations

• The use of characters will be subject to specific licensing conditions, preventing unauthorized uses or uses that could harm the reputation of the brands.
• The importance of clear and well-defined contracts between AI developers and rights holders is reinforced.
• This type of agreement anticipates increased collaboration between technology companies and intellectual property owners.

Impact on the creative and technology industries

The Disney–OpenAI alliance marks a turning point by demonstrating how major entertainment companies are choosing to actively integrate into the development of artificial intelligence, rather than merely reacting to it.

Conclusion

Disney’s investment in OpenAI and the licensing of characters for Sora reflect the evolution of the digital creative ecosystem, where artificial intelligence and intellectual property converge in a strategic manner. This type of agreement redefines traditional models of content creation, distribution, and protection.

At Ramos, Ripoll & Schuster®, we have the experience necessary to advise you on intellectual property, licensing, technology, and artificial intelligence matters. Should you have any questions related to these topics, we remain at your disposal.

Authors:

Edmundo Elías-Fernández
eelias@rrs.com.mx

Alejandro Ripoll González
aripoll@rrs.com.mx

Juan Rafael Amador-Espinosa
jamador@rrs.com.mx

Daniela Márquez Ledezma
dmarquez@rrs.com.mx