ByteDance addresses Hollywood copyright concerns over Seedance 2.0 update

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has announced plans to strengthen safeguards for its new artificial intelligence video generator, Seedance 2.0. The tool, available only in China at present, allows users to generate high-quality AI videos using simple text prompts.

Concerns have been raised by Hollywood groups regarding the use of likenesses and copyrighted works without permission. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has stated that Seedance 2.0 “has engaged in unauthorized use of US copyrighted works on a massive scale.” The MPA is calling for ByteDance to immediately cease its infringing activities.

Screenwriter Rhett Reese, who wrote the Deadpool movies, expressed his concerns about the tool’s impact on creators. Actors union SAG-AFTRA has also condemned the “blatant infringement” enabled by Seedance 2.0, stating that it disregards law and ethics.

In response to these concerns, ByteDance has pledged to take steps to strengthen current safeguards and prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property and likenesses by users. Jonathan Handel, an entertainment journalist and lawyer, notes that the developments mark “the beginning of a difficult road” for the film industry, as AI-generated videos will have significant implications in the coming years.

The tool is trained primarily on unlicensed data, which may result in output resembling faces and scenes from famous movies, implicating copyrights, trademarks, and other rights. As digital technology continues to evolve, it is likely that full-length movies generated by AI will become more prevalent.

Source: Al Jazeera