In a current showdown over AI-generated content, Disney has taken a stand against ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. Disney has sent a cease-and-desist letter, accusing ByteDance’s new platform, Seedance 2.0, of using its beloved characters—from Star Wars to Marvel—without permission. They claim Seedance treats these characters like free clip art.
This heated situation escalated quickly. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Human Artistry Campaign, which includes major players like SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America, have also voiced their concerns. The Human Artistry Campaign called Seedance 2.0 “an attack on every creator around the world,” arguing that copying human creators undermines innovation and culture.
Seedance 2.0 has sparked controversy by producing realistic deepfakes, including a mock showdown between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. These videos have gone viral, further fueling outrage from the entertainment industry. The MPA urged ByteDance to halt its unauthorized use of copyrighted material, highlighting that this activity threatens many creative jobs in the U.S.
Disney’s legal team has been active. In December, they sent a similar letter to Google about its AI tools. Recent reports indicate that Google’s technology has started rejecting prompts that involve Disney’s characters.
On the other hand, Disney is also looking to tap into the AI market. They recently signed a $1 billion agreement with OpenAI to license their characters for the generative video app Sora.
The clash between creators and AI platforms underscores a larger trend. According to a recent survey from the Creative Artists Agency, 72% of creators worry about how AI might affect their livelihoods. As technology continues to evolve, the debate over intellectual property rights and innovation remains vital for the industry.
In this landscape, it’s clear that balancing creativity with AI advancements will be an ongoing challenge for companies and creators alike. For more details on copyright laws and their implications, check out this report from the U.S. Copyright Office here.
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AI,ByteDance,Disney,Seedance 2.0
