OpenAI & Disney Strike $1 Bn Licensing Deal to Bring Iconic Characters to Sora AI Video Platform

OpenAI and the Walt Disney Company have reached a three-year licensing and investment agreement that will allow Disney’s legendary characters to be used in AI-generated content on OpenAI’s Sora platform and ChatGPT Images, marking a major shift in entertainment and generative AI collaboration.

Interestingly, soon after, the Walt Disney Company accused Google of large-scale copyright infringement tied to the tech giant’s artificial intelligence services, sending a cease-and-desist letter that demands immediate corrective action.

Under the deal, Sora — OpenAI’s short-form video generator — will be able to create user-prompted social videos featuring more than 200 characters from Disney’s vast library, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars franchises.

This includes figures such as Mickey Mouse, Ariel, Iron Man, Darth Vader and many others across iconic worlds, though the agreement does not include talent likenesses or voices.

“Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content,” said Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI.

As part of the agreement, Disney is making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, becoming a major customer of OpenAI’s technology. Disney plans to deploy OpenAI’s APIs to build new products, tools and experiences, including integration with its Disney+ streaming service and internal deployment of ChatGPT for employees.

“Technological innovation has continually shaped the evolution of entertainment … we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works,” said Robert A. Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company.

Select fan-inspired Sora videos are expected to be available for viewing on Disney+ beginning in early 2026.