In the latest salvo between Hollywood and artificial intelligence companies, tech start-up Character.AI has removed many Disney characters from its chatbot platform after the Burbank entertainment giant sent the firm a cease-and-desist letter, alleging copyright infringement.<\/p>\n
Chatbots on the Character.AI platform impersonated well-known Disney characters such as Elsa, Moana, Peter Parker and Darth Vader and generated replies that simulated the \u201cessence, goodwill, and look and feel of each character\u201d and also incorporated their backstories, according to a letter dated Sept. 18 from a law firm representing Disney.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese actions mislead and confuse consumers, including vulnerable young people, to believe that they are interacting with Disney\u2019s characters, and to falsely believe that Disney has licensed these characters to, and endorsed their use by, Character.ai,\u201d the letter said. \u201cIn fact, Character.ai is freeriding off the goodwill of Disney\u2019s famous marks and brands, and blatantly infringing Disney\u2019s copyrights.\u201d<\/p>\n
Disney also raised concerns about reports that chatbots have engaged users in inappropriate conversations.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Menlo Park-based startup said in an email that Character.AI responds \u201cswiftly\u201d to rights holders\u2019 requests to remove content and noted that all of the characters on the service are generated by users. <\/p>\n
On Tuesday afternoon, a few Disney characters remained on the platform, including Elsa from the hit animated film \u201cFrozen.\u201d The spokesperson said removing the characters is a process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to partner with the industry and rightsholders to empower them to bring their characters to our platform,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cOur goal is to give IP owners the tools to create controlled, engaging and revenue-generating experiences from deep fandom for their characters and stories, expanding their reach using our new, interactive format.\u201d<\/p>\n
Friction between Hollywood studios and AI firms has been growing.<\/p>\n
In June, Disney and Comcast\u2019s Universal Pictures sued AI company Midjourney<\/a>, alleging that its image generator infringed on its copyrighted characters from franchises such as \u201cStar Wars\u201d and \u201cDespicable Me.\u201d <\/p>\n