Technologies

Disney Slaps Google With Cease and Desist, Claiming ‘Massive’ Copyright Violations

Disney also has a new partnership to let OpenAI use its characters in its AI video tool.

As Disney inks a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to license its characters for AI videos, the entertainment giant is also going after Google. Disney sent Google a cease-and-desist letter Wednesday, alleging that Google AI models are infringing on its copyright protections on a «massive scale.»

«Google’s AI Services are designed to free ride off Disney’s intellectual property. Google has refused to implement any technological measures to mitigate or prevent copyright infringement, even though such measures are readily available and being used by Google’s competitors,» the letter reads. «Instead, Google continues to directly exploit Disney’s copyrights for commercial gain.»

Google has released a major overhaul to its AI products with Gemini 3, which includes the second generation of its popular nano banana pro AI image model. There has been a massive uptick in the popularity and ability of creative AI tools this year. New models give users the ability to create ultra-realistic AI images and videos. This ability has long worried copyright and intellectual property owners, and improvements in AI models this year have brought those concerns into clearer view. Disney, one of the biggest intellectual property owners, has become central to such legal and ethical debates.

The letter outlines Disney’s concerns that Google is using its position as a market leader to create and disseminate AI content. As the parent company of YouTube, Google is «flooding the market with infringing works, and reaping enormous profits and other value from its unlawful, harmful and damaging exploitation of Disney’s copyrighted works,» the letter says. Disney says it brought its concerns to Google’s attention months ago, but the tech company did nothing in response, leading to the cease-and-desist letter this week.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Disney, along with Universal and Warner Bros., had already filed lawsuits against Midjourney AI over similar infringement concerns, calling the AI company «a bottomless pit of plagiarism.» Disney’s complaint in the new cease-and-desist letter deals with the same issue that Google AI users can use its models to create content that is too similar to its copyrighted characters like Darth Vader. But while Disney takes legal action against Google, it has also explored licensing opportunities with other AI companies like OpenAI.

On Thursday, Disney announced it had inked a $1 billion deal with OpenAI, one of the biggest competitors to Google. The deal gives OpenAI clearance to use more than 200 iconic Disney characters in AI images and Sora videos, including those from Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. The deal makes Disney a «major customer» of OpenAI, bringing ChatGPT to Disney employees and select Sora AI videos to Disney Plus. This is a markedly different approach from previous AI-related legal action taken by Disney.

CNET reached out to Google for comment but did not receive a response before publication. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, parent company of CNET, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)

For more, check out the new pricing for Disney Plus, Hulu Live and ESPN and our guide to understanding copyright and AI.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Dec. 12

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 12.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: Bullet ___ (insect known for its painful sting)
Answer: ANT

4A clue: Setting for the children’s book «Good Night, Gorilla»
Answer: ZOO

5A clue: Mixed-breed dogs
Answer: MUTTS

7A clue: Language that gave us the words «democracy» and «philosophy»
Answer: GREEK

8A clue: Untidy
Answer: MESSY

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: Brilliant shade of blue
Answer: AZURE

2D clue: Classroom jottings
Answer: NOTES

3D clue: «100%,» in slang
Answer: TOTES

5D clue: Longtime movie studio now owned by Amazon
Answer: MGM

6D clue: Chicago W.N.B.A. team
Answer: SKY

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Technologies

Speed Across the Galaxy Next Year in Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Step aside, Skywalker. This is more than just pod racing.

After a surprise reveal of Star Wars: The Fate of the Old Republic to start The Game Awards on Thursday, another Star Wars game made its debut. But this one has no Jedi, no lightsabers, just people racing through treacherous terrain.

Galactic Racer is developed by Fuse Games, a studio created in 2023 and made up of former Burnout and Need for Speed developers. In the game’s description, races are run-based, meaning that once your vehicle is blown up, your race is over.

Galactic Racer will be released in 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

When does Star Wars: Galactic Racer take place?

According to the Galactic Racer Steam page, the game takes place after the Empire is gone, when the galaxy is rebuilding. The Galactic League has formed in the Outer Rim, and underground races will lead to fame and fortune for those racers fast enough to survive.

The trailer introduces Shade, «a lone racer with a dream of glory and revenge,» Fuse Games co-founder Matt Webster told StarWars.com.

«Your aim is to survive long enough to earn your shot at becoming an elite racing pilot,» he said. «Our races are high-stakes competitions where racers do everything they can to get to the front in the solo campaign and in our awesome multiplayer gameplay.»

What kind of vehicles will be available to ride in Star Wars: Galactic Racer?

The game’s trailer was short, but Star Wars fans will recognize a couple of landspeeders, skim speeders and speederbikes. Each vehicle type will have its unique handling and feel, with some able to squeeze through tight spaces and hug corners at top speed.

As the players progress, they will be able to upgrade their vehicles to their preferred style of play. By continuing to win, the better the vehicle can be made and the more races across different worlds will be available to race in.

Technologies

Reddit Challenges Australia’s Social Media Ban for Those Under 16 in High Court

Two days after announcing it would crank up its safety rules, Reddit is going to court to fight the Australian law.

Reddit, the social media and community chat forum, announced on Thursday that it is challenging Australia’s under-16 social media ban in the country’s High Court.

A statement posted to X said that the new law, which bans Australians aged 15 and younger from using apps such as Reddit, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Snapchat, YouTube, Kick and Twitch, «has the unfortunate effect of forcing intrusive and potentially insecure verification processes on adults as well as minors, isolating teens from the ability to engage in age-appropriate community experiences.»

The move comes just days after the San Francisco-based company implemented age verification measures in Australia.

Initially, Reddit appeared to be complying with the Australian law without resistance. On Tuesday, Reddit said it would verify that new members and current account holders in Australia are at least 16. It also announced that account holders under 18 worldwide will get modified versions of the app that prevent access to NSFW and mature content, with stricter chat settings and no ad personalization or sensitive ads.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

A representative for Reddit did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reddit calls Australian law ‘arbitrary’

Earlier this week, Reddit said the legislation limits free expression and privacy and «is arbitrary, legally erroneous, and goes far beyond the original intent of the Australian Parliament, especially when other obvious platforms are exempt.»

«We believe strongly in the open internet and the continued accessibility of quality knowledge, information, resources, and community building for everyone, including young people,» the Tuesday statement said. «This is why Reddit has always been, and continues to be, available for anyone to read even if they don’t have an account.»

Age verification rules — such as the UK Online Safety Act — are becoming the norm rather than the exception for governments and companies worldwide. The internet is increasingly being filtered to prevent children from accessing certain content online. It’s a battleground where privacy, access to information and online safety are huge factors.

Age prediction and verification

Reddit had earlier stated that it would use an age prediction model to determine if new and existing account holders in Australia are at least 16 years old. If the model predicts that one of their members is under 16, Reddit will request proof of age. As outlined by the company, people must verify their birthdate by providing a government ID or taking a selfie. The company said it would suspend accounts of those it determines to be under 16.

Reddit claimed it would only securely store age information and not the photos or documents used in the verification process. The information would not be visible to advertisers or sold to data brokers, and would reportedly only be used to «enhance content relevance and ad experiences.»

Reddit said it was planning to increase platform safety for those under 18. If you’re under 18, you won’t be permitted to moderate communities dedicated to NSFW or mature content. The site will disable ad personalization, and you will not see ads for alcohol, gambling or other sensitive topics.