ByteDance Introduces Safeguards for AI Video Tool Seedance 2.0 Amid Hollywood Criticism

Introduction to the Controversy

A Chinese technology company, ByteDance, has announced that it will impose restrictions on a controversial AI-powered video creation tool. This decision comes after major media companies raised concerns about copyright violations. The tool in question is Seedance 2.0, the latest version of an AI video generator released on February 12. It is currently only available in China and has gained significant attention for its ability to generate realistic images and videos of famous actors and cartoon characters using short text prompts.

Features and Reactions to Seedance 2.0

One of the most notable outputs from Seedance 2.0 was an image depicting Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise engaged in a fight. Many users have praised the AI for its highly realistic results, which are considered superior to existing models like DeepSeek. However, this popularity has also drawn criticism from several Hollywood companies, which have threatened legal action against ByteDance.

Legal Threats from Major Studios

In response to these concerns, Disney sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance on February 13. According to media reports, the letter accused the company of training Seedance with a “pirated library” that included famous Disney characters from franchises such as Star Wars and Marvel. A source told Reuters that the letter claimed Seedance was using and distributing creative works as “public-domain clip art,” which violates Disney’s copyright and intellectual property rights.

Paramount Skydance also sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance, blaming them for copyright infringement, as reported by Variety. In a statement, ByteDance acknowledged the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0 and said they are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards. They added that they are working to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users. However, the company did not specify what exact measures were being taken.

Additional Concerns from Industry Unions

SAG-AFTRA, a US labor union representing on-screen actors and artists, has also voiced concerns about the “unauthorized use of its members’ voice and likeness.” In a statement, the union demanded “responsible AI development” and called for actions to address the issues raised by ByteDance.

Past Incidents and Legal Actions

This is not the first time Disney has taken legal action against AI platforms. In 2025, Disney sent a cease and desist letter to Character.ai, which was accused of using their characters without permission. Following the letter, the chatbot service removed all characters that infringed on Disney’s intellectual property.

Disney and NBC Universal also sued online image generator Midjourney in 2025 for similar reasons of copyright infringement. Although the case is still ongoing, it highlights the efforts of creative companies to protect their intellectual property.

Balancing Legal Action with Business Deals

Despite these legal threats, some companies are also making deals with AI businesses. For instance, Disney struck a $1 billion deal with OpenAI to allow its video generator, Sora AI, to creatively use the likeness of characters such as Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and Luke Skywalker in a three-year licensing agreement. This shows a complex landscape where legal action and business partnerships coexist in the AI industry.