Hollywood objects to ByteDance Seedance 2.0 AI video generator over IP

Hollywood organizations are pushing back against ByteDance's new AI video model called Seedance 2.0. They say it has quickly become a tool for blatant copyright infringement. The company launched the updated model earlier this week and it is currently available to Chinese users of the Jianying app with plans to expand soon to global users of its CapCut app. The model allows users to create videos limited to 15 seconds in length by entering a text prompt. It 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 created by a two line prompt in Seedance 2, Deadpool screenwriter Rhett Reese responded that it is likely over for us. The Motion Picture Association issued a statement from chief executive Charles Rivkin demanding that ByteDance immediately cease its infringing activity. Rivkin said the Chinese AI service has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale in a single day by launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement. The Human Artistry Campaign condemned Seedance 2.0 as an attack on every creator around the world. SAG AFTRA said it stands with the studios in condemning the blatant infringement enabled by ByteDance's new AI video model. Disney sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance accusing it of a virtual smash and grab of its intellectual property. The letter claimed the company is hijacking Disney owned characters such as Spider Man, Darth Vader and Grogu by reproducing, distributing and creating derivative works featuring those characters. Paramount sent ByteDance a cease and desist letter. The letter claimed that much of the content the Seed Platforms produce contains vivid depictions of Paramount's famous and iconic franchises and characters that is often indistinguishable both visually and audibly from Paramount's films and television shows. TechCrunch has reached out to ByteDance for comment.