Bytedance pledges to rein in Seedance AI tool

Last week, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) – which represents major US studios and streamers – called on Seedance 2.0 to “immediately cease" infringing copyright with its clips based on existing films and shows.

Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA, said: "In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of US copyrighted works on a massive scale. By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs. ByteDance should immediately cease its infringing activity.”

Disney also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing it of supplying Seedance with a "pirated library" of the studio's copyrighted characters, including those from Marvel and Star Wars.

Seedance can create videos based on short text prompts. Many clips on the service are based on real actors and shows, and some have gone viral since the launch of its latest 2.0 version on 12 February. One clip features a highly realistic fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.

This week, ByteDance told the BBC that the company "respects intellectual property rights” and has “heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0."

"We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property and likeness by users."

The Walt Disney Company recently agreed to invest $1bn in OpenAI, enabling users to make videos with its copyrighted characters on the video generation app, Sora. Discover more here.