Google has restricted the generation of images featuring Disney-owned characters in its AI image tools following a legal notice from The Walt Disney Company.
Users of Google’s Gemini and Nano Banana image-generation systems have reported that prompts requesting well-known characters such as Yoda, Elsa or Iron Man are now blocked. Requests that previously generated images are met with messages stating the request cannot be fulfilled due to concerns from third-party content providers.
Cease-and-desist letter issued in December
The restrictions follow a cease-and-desist letter sent by Disney to Google in December. In the letter, Disney accused Google’s AI systems of enabling the large-scale creation of unlicensed reproductions of its intellectual property.
Disney described the tools as functioning like an unlicensed distribution mechanism for copyrighted works. The company called on Google to halt the generation of character imagery, prevent further unauthorised use of its intellectual property, and address concerns about model training.
Google has stated that its AI models are trained on publicly available web data and has previously said it is developing copyright management systems, including tools similar to content identification systems that allow rights holders to manage how their material is used.
Filters tightened across Google tools
Following the letter, Google appears to have tightened its prompt filters. Attempts to generate Disney-owned characters using short text descriptions are now declined.
Some users have reported limited workarounds, such as uploading existing character images and modifying them through indirect prompts. However, restrictions remain in place for direct text-based generation of copyrighted Disney characters.
Disney signs AI licensing agreement with OpenAI
Separately, Disney has entered into a reported $1bn licensing agreement with OpenAI, authorising the use of Disney-owned characters within OpenAI’s video generation tool Sora.
The agreement permits character use under defined licensing terms and marks a formal partnership between Disney and OpenAI in generative AI development.
Copyright and AI development
The dispute highlights ongoing legal questions surrounding generative AI systems and copyrighted content. Intellectual property holders have increasingly raised concerns that AI models may reproduce protected works without permission.
Technology companies, including Google and OpenAI, have introduced filtering systems and policy updates aimed at reducing the unauthorised generation of copyrighted material. Legal frameworks governing AI training data and output remain subject to regulatory and judicial review in multiple jurisdictions.
What this means
Users of Google’s AI image tools will no longer be able to directly generate images of Disney-owned characters through text prompts. The change reflects increased enforcement of copyright restrictions within generative AI platforms and signals tighter controls on intellectual property use in AI-generated media.
When and where
The restrictions followed a cease-and-desist letter sent by Disney to Google in December 2025. Reporting on the changes to Gemini and related tools was published in February 2026.
