There's this little thing called brand value. Disney has one of the most valuable brands in the world. Forbes estimated it at being worth about $60 billion as I recall.
That brand was built heavily over many decades on IP that dates back to the 1920s, such as the most recognizable Disney character, Mickey Mouse. They manipulated the law to enhance the value of that IP and thereby gained an edge over their competitors. That's a big part of why they now enjoy such a dominant position.
None of this is especially controversial (you will get a very different spin from Disney of course).
If you want to comment about how business works you should read history and learn how business works first. AI luminary that you are, if you choose to remain ignorant then I guess this whole cycle will happen again with AI.