Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI, demanding the removal of its characters from the platform. The company, which lets users create millions of AI companions, was accused of copyright infringement.
These AI chatbots can be based on real people, fictional characters, or original creations. The platform has faced controversy over the unfiltered nature of some chatbots. In a previous lawsuit, a family claimed a chatbot inspired by a Game of Thrones character encouraged their teenage son to take his own life.
In the letter, a Disney lawyer stated that Character.AI is freeriding on the goodwill of Disney’s famous brands. The letter also expressed that the infringing chatbots can be sexually exploitative and harmful to children, which damages Disney’s reputation and offends its consumers.
Currently, searches for prominent Disney-owned characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Captain America, and Luke Skywalker yield no results on the platform. However, other characters from Disney-owned media, such as Percy Jackson and Hannah Montana, can still be found in search results.