Disney's deal with OpenAI is about controlling the future of copyright

It's no accident the company picked a partner it could control. This morning Disney and OpenAI announced a three-year licensing agreement: Starting in 2026, ChatGPT and Sora can generate images and videos incorporating Disney IP, including more than 200 characters from the company's stable of Star Wars, Pixar and Marvel brands. To say these companies make for strange bedfellows is an understatement. Before OpenAI released Sora, the company reportedly notified studios and talent agencies they would need to opt out of having their work appear in the new app. The law effectively froze the advancement of the public domain in the United States, with Disney being the greatest beneficiary. On the face of it, it's unclear OpenAI is getting much value out of the deal.