Major entertainment companies Disney and Paramount have formally accused Seedance 2.0, an AI video generator developed by TikTok creator ByteDance, of illegally distributing and reproducing their intellectual property.
ByteDance has responded by stating it is actively working to enhance the safeguards on its new AI tool. This commitment comes after Disney, Paramount, and prominent Hollywood trade groups raised significant concerns, alleging that Seedance 2.0 violates copyright protections. The alarm was triggered last week when hyperrealistic videos, generated by the Seedance 2.0 model, gained widespread viral attention. These videos prominently featured the likenesses of well-known actors, including Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, alongside characters from popular franchises such as Dragon Ball Z, Family Guy, and Pokémon.
In a statement shared by CNBC, a ByteDance spokesperson addressed the matter: “ByteDance respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0. We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users.”
ByteDance's statement follows a series of complaints from major studios. On Friday, Disney dispatched a cease and desist letter, accusing ByteDance of "hijacking" its protected characters by "reproducing, distributing, and creating derivative works" that incorporate them. Deadline reports that Paramount Skydance subsequently issued its own cease and desist letter, demanding that ByteDance remove all instances of infringing Paramount content and implement measures to prevent its future generation.
Hollywood trade organizations have also weighed in on the controversy, including the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the SAG-AFTRA talent union. MPA CEO Charles Rivkin released a statement condemning ByteDance for what he described as copyright infringement on a “massive scale,” asserting that the company is disregarding well-established laws that are fundamental to “millions of American jobs.” Similarly, SAG-AFTRA stated that Seedance 2.0 has utilized its members’ voices and likenesses without proper authorization.
In a statement provided to AP News, SAG-AFTRA declared, “This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent. Responsible AI development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here.”
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