AI video generation is rapidly advancing, but the rise of Seedance 2.0 is causing major concerns in Hollywood. Hollywood organizations are pushing back against a new AI video model called Seedance 2.0, which they say has quickly become a tool for “blatant” copyright infringement.
ByteDance, the Chinese company that recently finalized a deal to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations, launched Seedance 2.0 earlier this week. According to the Wall Street Journal, the updated model is currently available to Chinese users of ByteDance’s Jianying app, and the company says it will soon be available to global users of its CapCut app.
Similar to tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Seedance allows users to create videos (currently limited to 15 seconds in length) by just entering a text prompt. And like Sora, Seedance quickly drew criticism for an apparent lack of guardrails around the ability to create videos using the likeness of real people, as well as studios’ intellectual property.
After one X user posted a brief video showing Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt, which they said was created by “a 2 line prompt in seedance 2,” “Deadpool” screenwriter Rhett Reese responded, “I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
The Motion Picture Association soon issued a statement from CEO Charles Rivkin demanding that ByteDance “immediately cease its infringing activity.”
“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,” Rivkin said. “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.”
The Human Artistry Campaign — an initiative backed by Hollywood unions and trade groups — condemned Seedance 2.0 as “an attack one very creator around the world,” while the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA said it “stands with the studios in condemning the blatant infringement enabled by Bytedance’s new AI video model Seedance 2.0.” You can find more related Tech news on our website.
The Growing Concerns Around AI Video Generation
Seedance videos have apparently featured Disney-owned characters such as Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and Grogu, better known as Baby Yoda, prompting the company to take legal action. Axios reports that Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing ByteDance of a “virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP”and claiming the Chinese company is “hijacking Disney’s characters by reproducing, distributing, and creating derivative works featuring those characters.”
Disney isn’t necessarily opposed to working with AI companies — while it has reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google over similar issues, it’s signed a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI.
TechCrunch has reached out to ByteDance for comment.
Hollywood’s Stance on AI Video
The core issue revolves around copyright infringement and the unauthorized use of intellectual property. Hollywood studios and unions are concerned that AI video generation tools like Seedance 2.0 can easily replicate characters, scenes, and even actors’ likenesses without proper licensing or consent. This poses a significant threat to the industry’s revenue streams and the livelihoods of its creators.
The Future of AI and Entertainment
The conflict between Hollywood and ByteDance highlights the broader challenges of regulating AI technology. While AI offers exciting new possibilities for content creation, it also raises complex legal and ethical questions. Finding a balance between innovation and protecting intellectual property rights is crucial for ensuring a sustainable future for both the tech and entertainment industries. The debate surrounding AI video will likely continue as the technology evolves.
Source: TechCrunch
