YouTube hired long-time Walt Disney Co. executive Justin Connolly to serve as its global head of media and sports — triggering a lawsuit against the Google-owned video service. On Thursday, Disney filed suit against YouTube in state court in Los Angeles to stop the appointment,

In response, Disney is suing YouTube and Connolly, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic. Connolly was under contract to Disney and was at ESPN’s launch last week of its much-anticipated direct-to-consumer product that is due to begin in the fall. Connolly had been with Disney/ESPN for more than two decades.

It seeks a court order to block the hiring, arguing that Connolly could leak confidential information or trade secrets belonging to Disney ahead of a licensing renewal with YouTube. Hollywood Gets a Major Boost From a Republican Senator in the Fight Over AI Copyright Connolly and Disney last year entered into a deal in which he agreed to stay with the company until the end of 2027,