ByteDance Pledges Safeguards After Seedance 2.0 Sparks Copyright Furor
ByteDance said it will strengthen safeguards after Seedance 2.0 generated viral AI videos resembling copyrighted characters and prompted cease-and-desist letters from major studios.
Overview
ByteDance said it will strengthen safeguards on its Seedance 2.0 video model after studios sent cease-and-desist letters accusing the tool of unauthorized use of copyrighted works.
Seedance 2.0, available mainly in mainland China through the Jimeng AI app and slated for integration into CapCut, produced viral AI videos including a Tom Cruise–Brad Pitt fight that alarmed creators and industry figures.
The Motion Picture Association said on February 10 that Seedance 2.0 engaged in "unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale," and SAG-AFTRA and the Human Artistry Campaign condemned the tool.
Disney and Paramount sent cease-and-desist letters alleging widescale infringement, studios said the model produced vivid depictions of their franchises and that ByteDance loaded it with a "pirated library" of characters.
ByteDance said it respects intellectual property, is taking steps to strengthen safeguards and monitoring, and suspended uploads of real people while the company works to prevent unauthorized use of content.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Seedance 2.0 as an existential threat to creators by foregrounding industry condemnations and emphasizing economic harm. Editorial framing elevates charged source language (e.g., "blatantly," "likely over for us") while marginalizing ByteDance’s brief response and technical/regulatory context; quoted lines remain source content, not editorial invention.
Sources (10)
FAQ
Seedance 2.0 is an AI video generator developed by ByteDance that creates high-quality Hollywood-style CGI videos from simple text prompts, currently available mainly in mainland China through the Jimeng AI app.
Seedance 2.0 generated viral AI videos depicting copyrighted characters, such as a Tom Cruise–Brad Pitt fight, Darth Vader fighting Thanos, and vivid depictions of Disney and Marvel franchises.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), SAG-AFTRA, Human Artistry Campaign, Disney, and Paramount sent condemnations or cease-and-desist letters accusing ByteDance of copyright infringement.
ByteDance stated it respects intellectual property rights, is strengthening safeguards and monitoring, and has suspended uploads of real people to prevent unauthorized use of content.
Seedance 2.0 is available mainly in mainland China through the Jimeng AI app and is slated for integration into CapCut.
History
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