ByteDance has promised to tighten rules on its AI video tool after facing legal threats from major Hollywood studios.
The TikTok owner said it will improve “safeguards” on Seedance 2.0 to stop users from creating videos based on copyrighted characters and franchises. The move comes after strong backlash from the film industry.
Both Disney and Paramount sent cease-and-desist letters demanding an immediate stop to what they described as copyright theft.
Disney accused ByteDance of filling Seedance 2.0 with a “pirated library” of its characters. Paramount claimed the AI had created detailed scenes featuring its famous franchises without permission.
Seedance 2.0 launched last week and quickly went viral. One clip showing a fake fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt spread fast online. Other videos included alternative endings to popular shows.
The Motion Picture Association said the service carried out “unauthorized use” of copyrighted work on a massive scale. It warned that such tools threaten jobs and ignore established copyright laws.
The Human Artistry Campaign, which includes major Hollywood unions, called the AI tool “destructive to culture.” The group said deepfakes and voice clones violate actors’ rights and should be stopped.
ByteDance said it respects intellectual property and is working to prevent misuse. It has not confirmed whether Seedance 2.0 will be paused, but the company says changes are coming.
