The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has taken a firm stand against ByteDance’s Seedance 2.0 AI platform for copyright infringement. The MPA, representing seven major member companies, has demanded that ByteDance cease training on studios’ movies and TV shows and implement measures to prevent users from generating copyrighted material.
The industry outcry against Seedance 2.0 began on February 12 when the MPA issued a statement calling for an immediate end to the infringement. Six of the seven member studios have since sent cease and desist letters to ByteDance, urging them to respect copyright protections.
In response, ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, released a brief statement affirming its commitment to copyright protections and promising to strengthen existing safeguards. However, Karyn Temple, the MPA general counsel, emphasized the need for more than just general statements, citing ongoing examples of Seedance producing infringing material.
The conflict over Seedance 2.0 has united the studios in a way previous AI disputes have not. Disney and Universal have been particularly aggressive in protecting their iconic characters, with Disney filing a major lawsuit against Midjourney last year. While Seedance’s capabilities are currently limited to short clips, it represents a significant technological advancement in delivering a cinematic look to live-action sequences.
ByteDance has the opportunity to follow OpenAI’s example by implementing stricter measures on Seedance 2.0 and potentially partnering with studios like Disney. Failure to do so may lead to legal challenges and delays in pursuing action against a China-based company.
The MPA’s letter highlights specific instances of copyright infringement on Seedance, including videos featuring characters like Shrek, SpongeBob, Darth Vader, Deadpool, and references to “Stranger Things.” The letter calls for ByteDance to respond by February 27 with details of the steps taken to address these issues.
In one example cited in the letter, a user posted an AI-generated Spider-Man fight sequence on Seedance, praising the platform for disregarding copyright laws and enabling users to create unique content. However, the MPA views this as a systemic infringement rather than a one-off occurrence.
Overall, the MPA’s actions reflect a growing concern within the industry over the misuse of AI technology for copyright infringement. As the situation unfolds, ByteDance will need to demonstrate a commitment to protecting intellectual property rights to avoid further scrutiny and potential legal consequences.
