Google removes AI-generated videos featuring Disney characters after Disney requests it be removed

Variety reports that Google has removed dozens of AI-generated videos depicting Disney characters after receiving a request from Disney to remove them.

Google Removes AI Videos of Disney Characters After Cease and Desist
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/google-removes-ai-videos-disney-characters-cease-desist-1236608015/

Google reportedly takes down AI videos of Disney characters following cease and desist | Mashable
https://mashable.com/article/google-takes-down-ai-videos-of-disney-characters-cease-and-desist

On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Disney sent a letter to Google demanding the immediate removal of YouTube links containing 'Google AI-generated videos containing Disney characters.' The videos Disney cited include Mickey Mouse, Deadpool, Star Wars, and The Simpsons characters.

Most of the videos containing Disney characters were generated by Veo.

Google rolls out video generation AI model 'Veo 3' to Google AI Pro users, up to three videos per day - GIGAZINE

The video that Disney requested be removed was playable as of the 11th, but by the 12th, a message was displayed saying, 'Due to a copyright infringement claim by Disney, this video is no longer available,' and it became unplayable, Variety has confirmed.

Disney's removal request also included a list of characters they wanted removed from YouTube and YouTube Shorts, including characters from 'Frozen,' 'Moana,' 'Toy Story,' 'Deadpool,' 'Iron Man,' 'Lilo & Stitch,' and 'Winnie the Pooh.'

Disney's request to Google for the removal of the video came just before Disney and OpenAI signed a licensing agreement that would allow Disney-branded characters to appear in the video-generating AI, Sora. Variety points out that 'Disney is trying to draw a clear line to prevent its characters from being used by AI without permission.'

Disney invests 160 billion yen in OpenAI, enabling the generation of Disney characters with Sora and ChatGPT - GIGAZINE

In a statement to Variety, Google said, 'We have a long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship with Disney and we look forward to continuing to work together in the future. More generally, we leverage public data from the open web to build AI and innovative copyright management features like Google Extensions and Content ID for YouTube, which give sites and rights holders control over their content.'

Disney also asked Google to 'implement safeguards to prevent its AI tools from generating Disney-owned characters' and 'stop using Disney characters to train its AI models.'