Hollywood Reacts to Seedance 2.0 Video Generator
▼ Summary
– Hollywood organizations are strongly criticizing ByteDance’s new AI video model, Seedance 2.0, for enabling widespread copyright infringement.
– The model, launched by ByteDance, allows users to create short videos from text prompts and is being rolled out globally via the CapCut app.
– Critics, including the Motion Picture Association and SAG-AFTRA, accuse the service of operating without meaningful safeguards, allowing the unauthorized use of copyrighted characters and likenesses.
– Specific examples of infringement include videos featuring Disney-owned characters like Spider-Man, leading Disney to send a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance.
– While Disney is taking legal action against ByteDance, it has also signed a licensing deal with OpenAI, indicating a selective approach to working with AI companies.
A new artificial intelligence video generator from ByteDance has ignited a firestorm of protest from major Hollywood studios and creative guilds. The tool, named Seedance 2.0, enables users to produce short clips from simple text descriptions, but its rapid adoption has led to widespread creation of videos featuring copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses without permission. This has prompted strong legal threats and accusations of “blatant” copyright infringement from the heart of the entertainment industry.
ByteDance, the Chinese technology giant behind TikTok, recently launched the updated model. It is currently accessible to users in China through the company’s Jianying app, with plans to roll it out globally via the popular CapCut editing platform. The tool functions similarly to other emerging AI video technologies, allowing for the generation of brief videos from written prompts. However, its apparent lack of robust safeguards has drawn immediate criticism for enabling the unauthorized use of protected intellectual property.
The controversy escalated quickly on social media. After a user shared a clip purportedly made with Seedance 2.0 showing actors Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in a fight scene, screenwriter Rhett Reese, known for “Deadpool,” reacted with dismay. “I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us,” he posted. This sentiment was echoed by formal industry statements. The Motion Picture Association, led by CEO Charles Rivkin, issued a demand for ByteDance to “immediately cease its infringing activity.” Rivkin condemned the service for engaging in “unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale” and for operating without meaningful protections against infringement.
A coalition of Hollywood unions and trade groups, the Human Artistry Campaign, labeled Seedance 2.0 “an attack on every creator around the world.” Similarly, the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA declared its solidarity with studios in condemning the infringement enabled by ByteDance’s new model. The specific content generated has become a central issue, with numerous videos reportedly featuring iconic Disney characters like Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and Baby Yoda.
In response, Disney has taken direct legal action. The media conglomerate has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing the company of a “virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP.” The letter alleges that ByteDance is effectively hijacking Disney’s characters by reproducing and creating derivative works without authorization. This move highlights a nuanced stance from Disney, which has simultaneously entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with OpenAI while pursuing legal complaints against other tech firms over similar intellectual property concerns. The industry’s reaction underscores a deepening conflict over the boundaries of AI-generated content and the protection of creative rights in the digital age.
(Source: TechCrunch)
