Writers and other creators see OpenAI’s forthcoming Media Manager as an attempt to evade responsibility for the theft of intellectual property.

“There are very few intellectual properties like ‘Sesame Street,’ made in the last 100 years, that are still worth investing in,” said Russell Hicks, an independent producer and former Nickelodeon content president.

Before assuming his lifetime appointment, Scarsi was a prominent patent and intellectual property attorney.

At the same time, they need to understand that at least some of these debates may be more intellectual than practical in their consequences.

"This is really our most prized intellectual property...we are very careful about being very close to its roots and authentic."