In a significant move, major Hollywood studios have come together to express their strong opposition to ByteDance's latest AI video generator, Seedance 2.0.Following the viral popularity of AI-generated content featuring iconic characters and celebrities, studios such as Netflix, Warner Bros.Discovery, Paramount, and Disney have sent cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance, accusing it of unauthorized use of copyrighted material.
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latimes.comcnbc.comThe controversy erupted after Seedance 2.0, which launched earlier this month, generated a flood of videos showcasing characters from beloved franchises, including "Game of Thrones" and "Stranger Things." Many of these videos depicted famous battles, such as superheroes clashing or iconic actors in fictional scenarios, raising immediate concerns over intellectual property rights in the US.
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aol.comfintool.comNetflix was one of the latest studios to take action, sending its cease-and-desist letter on February 14.The streaming giant referred to Seedance as "a high-speed privacy engine," asserting that it would not tolerate ByteDance treating its intellectual property (IP) as public domain.The letter highlighted the unauthorized use of sets from "Squid Game" and costumes from "Bridgerton," among others.
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latimes.comaol.comWarner Bros.Discovery followed suit, emphasizing the blatant infringement of its copyrighted characters, including those from the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" franchises.The studio's legal executive vice president, Wayne Smith, pointed out that the AI's training data included Warner Bros.properties without authorization, indicating a deliberate design choice by ByteDance to include such content in Seedance.
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latimes.comfintool.comDisney and Paramount were the first studios to act, sending their cease-and-desist letters just days earlier.Disney's letter accused ByteDance of pre-loading Seedance with a "pirated library" of its copyrighted characters from franchises like Star Wars and Marvel.According to Disney's attorney, this reproduction and distribution of characters without consent amounted to a "virtual smash-and-grab" of Disney's intellectual property.
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latimes.comcnbc.comIn response to the backlash, ByteDance has pledged to implement stronger safeguards to protect copyrighted material.A company spokesperson stated, "ByteDance respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0." However, the specifics of these safeguards have not been disclosed, which has led to skepticism among the affected studios.
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cnbc.comfintool.comIndustry observers note that this situation reflects a broader challenge facing entertainment companies in the age of AI.The rapid generation and dissemination of synthetic content can outpace traditional legal responses, making it difficult for studios to protect their IP effectively.Dan Purcell, CEO of Midnight Labs, remarked that reactive legal actions may not suffice and that the industry needs to adapt to the speed of AI technology rather than the slower pace of litigation.
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latimes.comaol.comThe Motion Picture Association (MPA), which represents a coalition of major Hollywood studios including Netflix and Warner Bros., has also issued a strong statement demanding that ByteDance cease its infringing activities.MPA chairman Charles Rivkin criticized the AI service for operating without meaningful safeguards against copyright infringement, emphasizing the potential harm to the livelihoods of creators and the creative economy.
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cnbc.comfintool.comThe stakes are high for these studios, as their content libraries are essential to their valuations and long-term survival strategies.With traditional media facing challenges from streaming competition and changing consumer habits, any erosion of copyright protections could further jeopardize their business models.
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fintool.comAs this legal battle unfolds, it will be crucial to see whether ByteDance will engage in licensing negotiations with the studios, akin to the approach taken by OpenAI.The outcome could shape the future of AI in the entertainment industry and determine how generative AI technologies will interact with existing copyright laws and protections in the US.
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cnbc.comfintool.comThe recent actions by Hollywood studios against ByteDance serve as a critical test of the accountability of generative AI companies.Whether this situation will lead to meaningful changes in how AI tools operate regarding copyright protections remains to be seen.
