Editorial illustration for ByteDance to tighten safeguards after Disney, Paramount allege AI model IP breach
Hollywood Studios Battle ByteDance Over AI Video Theft
ByteDance to tighten safeguards after Disney, Paramount allege AI model IP breach
Hollywood studios are pressing the biggest Chinese tech firm over a new generative‑AI offering that, according to them, is pulling content straight from their catalog. The two entertainment giants say the model, dubbed Seedance 2.0, is not just analyzing but actually reproducing scenes, scripts and other protected material. That accusation has landed ByteDance in the crosshairs of a sector that has been wary of AI’s appetite for copyrighted works.
As the dispute gathers attention, the company says it will adjust its internal controls to prevent further misuse. The move comes after a CNBC‑reported statement in which a ByteDance spokesperson acknowledged the concerns and promised action. The upcoming changes could shape how the firm balances rapid product rollout with the legal expectations of content owners.
Below, the spokesperson’s exact words clarify the company’s stance.
Disney and Paramount allege that Seedance 2.0 is distributing and reproducing their intellectual property. "ByteDance respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0," a ByteDance spokesperson said in a statement shared by CNBC. "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 response comes after receiving complaints from major studios.
In a cease and desist letter sent on Friday, Disney accused ByteDance of "hijacking" its protected characters by "reproducing, distributing, and creating derivative works" that feature them. Deadline reports that Paramount Skydance followed with its own cease and desist letter, demanding that ByteDance remove all infringing instances of Paramount content and prevent it from being generated in the future. Hollywood trade groups have also weighed in, including the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and SAG-AFTRA talent union.
MPA CEO Charles Rivkin issued a statement accusing ByteDance of engaging in copyright infringement at a "massive scale," and disregarding well-established laws that underpin "millions of American jobs." SAG-AFTRA said that its members' voices and likenesses have been used by Seedance 2.0 without authorization. "This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood," SAG-AFTRA said in a statement to AP News. "Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent.
Responsible AI development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here." Most Popular - Why are Epstein's emails full of equals signs?
Will the new safeguards be enough? ByteDance says it is adjusting its defenses after Disney, Paramount and industry groups raised alarms about Seedance 2.0. The model, which recently produced hyperrealistic clips of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and beloved animated characters, sparked a wave of copyright complaints.
Yet the company’s statement offers only a brief promise: “We respect intellectual property rights and are taking steps.” No details on the technical changes have been released, leaving observers to wonder how the revisions will address the alleged distribution and reproduction of protected content. Given that the model can replicate the likenesses of high‑profile actors and trademarked characters, regulators may scrutinize how ByteDance monitors and restricts such outputs moving forward. Critics note that without transparent metrics, the effectiveness of any safeguard remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, the viral videos continue to circulate, illustrating the tension between creative tools and existing rights frameworks. As ByteDance moves forward, the balance between innovation and compliance will likely be tested in courts and by industry watchdogs. Whether the adjustments will satisfy plaintiffs or merely postpone further disputes is still unclear.
Further Reading
- Bytedance commits to change after legal threat from Disney - Silicon Republic
- Papers with Code - Latest NLP Research - Papers with Code
- Hugging Face Daily Papers - Hugging Face
- ArXiv CS.CL (Computation and Language) - ArXiv
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Common Questions Answered
What specific actions have Disney and Paramount taken against ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video generator?
Disney and Paramount have sent separate cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance, accusing the company of blatant intellectual property infringement. [variety.com](https://variety.com) reports that Disney specifically claimed ByteDance was creating unauthorized videos featuring Star Wars and Marvel characters, while Paramount alleged the AI was reproducing scenes from franchises like 'South Park' and 'Star Trek'.
How have Hollywood industry groups responded to ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI platform?
The Motion Picture Association, SAG-AFTRA, and the Human Artistry Campaign have strongly condemned ByteDance's AI platform. [abcnews.com](https://abcnews.com) notes that these organizations have called on ByteDance to immediately cease its infringing activity, arguing that the platform operates without meaningful safeguards against copyright violations.
What viral examples have emerged from ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video generator?
Filmmaker Ruairí Robinson posted a viral video generated by Seedance 2.0 showing AI versions of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting in a post-apocalyptic setting. [scmp.com](https://www.scmp.com) reports that these videos have flooded the web, featuring unauthorized reproductions of celebrities and copyrighted characters from various franchises.