Disney files cease-and-desist to Character.AI over IP in chatbots

Walt Disney Company has sent a cease and desist letter to Character.AI, demanding the immediate removal of chatbots that the entertainment company says impersonate its copyrighted characters and warning that the platform’s use of those characters has harmed Disney’s brand. The letter, delivered last week, accused the chatbot service of reproducing and commercializing Disney properties without authorization and said some of the impersonations were being used in sexually exploitive or otherwise harmful interactions with accounts registered to minors. Character.AI said it has removed the Disney characters named in the demand.

Disney’s letter alleges that Character.AI’s service features bots modeled on characters from Pixar, Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other Disney-owned franchises, and that the use of those characters misleads consumers into believing Disney endorsed or licensed the interactions. The letter said the conduct is “anathema to the very essence of the Disney brand and legacy” and warned that if Character.AI did not provide written confirmation it would cease the described trademark and copyright violations, Disney would take all necessary steps to...