ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video tool sparks copyright infringement backlash
ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video tool reportedly enables creation of videos featuring real actors and existing films without authorization. SAG-AFTRA and Disney condemned the tool for unauthorized use of members' voices, likenesses, and intellectual property, with Disney sending a cease-and-desist letter.
What happened
ByteDance's Seedance 2.0 AI video generation tool enables creation of videos featuring real actors and existing movie content without authorization. SAG-AFTRA stated that Seedance 2.0 enables 'blatant infringement' including 'the unauthorized use of our members' voices and likenesses.'
SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin's likeness was exploited in videos, including one featuring his character Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings franchise. Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance citing 'willful, pervasive, and totally unacceptable' use of Disney-owned intellectual property.
Reported impact
SAG-AFTRA stated the infringement 'undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood.' The Motion Picture Association accused Seedance 2.0 of operating 'without meaningful safeguards against infringement.'
Governance controls
SAG-AFTRA stated that Seedance 2.0 'disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent.' The union called for responsible AI development with accountability, which it said was 'nonexistent' in this case.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.