ByteDance says it will add safeguards to viral AI tool following Hollywood backlash

In response to rising concerns from the entertainment industry, ByteDance, the Chinese tech powerhouse, has announced plans to strengthen the safeguards surrounding its AI video creation tool, Seedance 2.0. This tool allows users to generate realistic videos from text prompts, but it has come under fire for allegedly incorporating copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses, sparking significant intellectual property issues in the United States. A spokesperson for ByteDance acknowledged the backlash, stating, "We respect intellectual property rights and are aware of the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0." The company emphasized that it is committed to enhancing its existing measures to prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property and likenesses by users. Hollywood entities, including the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which represents major studios like Netflix, Disney, and Warner Bros., have expressed strong discontent. The MPA issued a statement demanding an immediate halt to what it termed "infringing activity," highlighting that Seedance 2.0 has allegedly engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a large scale. Charles Rivkin, chairman and CEO of the MPA, criticized ByteDance for launching a service that lacks adequate safeguards, saying it undermines established copyright laws that protect creators’ rights and support millions of American jobs. Reports have emerged that Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing the firm of distributing its intellectual property through Seedance without permission. The letter claims that ByteDance has essentially bundled Seedance with a collection of pirated copyrighted characters, misleadingly presenting them as public domain assets. Disney has previously taken similar actions against other AI companies for unauthorized use of its characters. In an effort to secure its intellectual property, Disney has also formed a licensing agreement with OpenAI, permitting the use of its characters from popular franchises in AI applications like the Sora video generator. Meanwhile, Paramount Skydance has joined the ranks of those demanding action against ByteDance, having also issued a cease-and-desist letter with similar allegations, as reported by Variety.