According to Variety, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) stated that Seedance 2.0, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, sparked a wave of copyright infringement just one day after its launch on 12/2. Products generated by this system have attracted many viewers on social media, notably a video depicting Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting on a rooftop.
Irish director Ruairi Robinson created this scene, stating on X that he used only a short prompt for the AI. Rhett Reese, a screenwriter for the Deadpool film series, believes this technology could change how films are made. He wrote, "In a short time, one person can sit in front of a computer and create a film indistinguishable from a Hollywood project."
Users commented on the potential implications: "The problem is not just the ability to create images but that the technology can use intellectual property without permission," and "This could be a turning point forcing Hollywood to change."
In a statement, an MPA spokesperson said Seedance 2.0 illegally uses copyrighted U.S. works on a large scale. Deploying the service without effective control mechanisms against infringement ignores existing copyright law, which protects creators' rights and sustains millions of jobs in the content industry. The MPA representative stated, "ByteDance should immediately cease its infringing activities."
The MPA has previously raised similar concerns when OpenAI launched its video generation tool, Sora 2, last year. The association demanded that OpenAI implement definitive measures, emphasizing that existing copyright law still applies to AI-generated content.
Following this, OpenAI added protective mechanisms to limit unauthorized reproduction of intellectual property by production companies. Late last year, Disney signed a licensing agreement to use 200 characters on the Sora 2 platform, seen as a potential cooperation model between film studios and technology companies.
Experts believe it is unclear if ByteDance is willing to pursue similar licensing. Copyright holders may be forced to issue takedown requests and initiate lawsuits. ByteDance has not yet responded to the situation.
Launched in 6/2025, Seedance 1.0 was considered by some experts to be the most powerful text-to-image video AI currently available. The tool allows users to convert simple, short prompts into high-quality film clips without complex requirements. ByteDance then launched version 2.0, supporting four input types: text, images, video, and audio. With a few keywords or reference images, the system can create multi-angle videos up to 60 seconds long, complete with original audio.
Many videos generated by Seedance are captivating audiences, such as a cat confronting Godzilla, Diep Van fighting Iron Man, or a primary school student dunking on LeBron James. The tool also recreates scenes from famous brands like Spider-Man, Titanic, Stranger Things, The Lord of the Rings, and Shrek, raising concerns about copyright control in the AI era.
Cat Tien (according to Variety)
