ByteDance to Stop Seedance 2.0’s AI Controversies Following Disney and Paramount’s Legal Actions
ByteDance Responds to Backlash Over Seedance 2.0 AI Model
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has announced plans to enhance "safeguards" for its Seedance 2.0 AI model following significant criticism from Hollywood regarding allegations of copyright infringement.
The company’s statement comes after receiving cease and desist letters from major studios such as Disney and Paramount Pictures, which have demanded an immediate halt to what they describe as intellectual property theft.
Disney has accused ByteDance of equipping Seedance 2.0 with a "pirated library of Disney’s copyrighted characters." Likewise, Paramount pointed out that the AI has generated "vivid depictions of Paramount’s famous and iconic franchises and characters."
In a statement to the BBC, ByteDance affirmed its commitment to respecting intellectual property rights. "We have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0," the company said. "We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users."
Launched last week, Seedance 2.0 was quickly met with controversy as it produced realistic deepfakes using copyrighted material from various Hollywood films and television shows. One particularly notable creation was a simulated fight scene featuring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, which quickly went viral, along with alternative endings to popular series like Stranger Things.
The Motion Picture Association reacted sharply, stating, “In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. 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.”
The Human Artistry Campaign, which includes organizations such as SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America, condemned the launch of Seedance 2.0 as a direct attack on creators globally. They emphasized that "stealing human creators’ work in an attempt to replace them with AI-generated slop is destructive to our culture: stealing isn’t innovation." The group further stressed that the unauthorized deepfakes and voice clones of actors violate fundamental aspects of personal autonomy, urging authorities to utilize every legal tool available to combat this widespread theft.
