ByteDance has said it will strengthen safeguards on its AI video platform Seedance after Disney threatened legal action over alleged copyright infringement.
The dispute began after highly realistic videos created with Seedance 2.0 spread online. Several Hollywood studios raised concerns that the tool was generating content featuring copyrighted characters without permission.
Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing ByteDance of using a “pirated library” of its intellectual property, including characters from Marvel and Star Wars. The studio described the alleged use as a “virtual smash-and-grab” of its copyrighted material.
In response, ByteDance said it respects intellectual property rights and is taking steps to prevent the unauthorised use of protected characters and likenesses. However, it did not provide details on what new measures would be introduced.
Seedance creates short AI-generated videos from text prompts. Since its latest update on 12 February, clips circulating online have reportedly shown well-known characters in scenes not produced by the original studios.
Other entertainment groups have also raised objections. Paramount Skydance has reportedly issued a legal warning, while the Motion Picture Association has called for the platform to halt any infringing activity.
The case highlights growing tensions between AI developers and the entertainment industry as studios seek to protect their intellectual property from increasingly advanced generative tools.
Author: Kieran Seymour