The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839) has issued a statement regarding the recently announced billion-dollar partnership between The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI. Under this agreement, Disney will license its content for use on Sora, OpenAI’s generative video platform, as well as on ChatGPT, which can create still images.

The deal has sparked widespread concern across the industry and among fans. The Animation Guild is particularly focused on the significant implications for its members, but also highlights the potential negative effects for consumers and families worldwide.

The Guild points out that Disney, known for its careful management of intellectual property and audience trust, is now introducing new uncertainties by embracing generative AI. Key issues include questions about creative integrity, data usage, and the protection of user likenesses—especially those of children—within AI-driven platforms.

Disney’s announcement clarified that the agreement does not cover talent likenesses or voices, which means live-action performers are protected, but the work of animators is not. The Animation Guild’s open letter calls for both Disney and OpenAI to be transparent and accountable about how creative work will be used, how artists will be protected, and how safety and privacy risks will be managed.

• The Guild notes that since its founding in 1952, its members have created many of Disney’s most iconic characters and worlds, yet have never received compensation for the licensing of these creations.
• There is concern that Guild members will not benefit from user-generated content produced by AI using their creative work.
• The unpredictability of generative AI is seen as a threat to the integrity and legacy of Disney’s brand, even with strong safeguards in place.
• Questions remain about how the likenesses of users and their children will be protected, especially as studios and their content could be sold to third parties.
• The Guild also asks whether users who create popular content, or the artists, writers, and technicians behind Disney’s beloved characters, will receive any compensation.

The Animation Guild emphasizes that animation workers deserve clarity on how their contributions will be used, and calls for honest answers from both Disney and OpenAI regarding the safety and privacy risks associated with this new platform.

Disclaimer: This article has been auto-generated from a syndicated RSS feed and has not been edited by Vitrina staff. It is provided solely for informational purposes on a non-commercial basis.