Chinese AI Video Tool Seedance Faces Hollywood Lawsuits Over Copyright

Hollywood is suing Chinese AI company ByteDance because its new video tool, Seedance, copied movie characters. This is a big problem for movie makers.
By Newsroom | Technology, Entertainment |

A new artificial intelligence tool from China, named Seedance, is causing a stir in Hollywood. This tool can create videos from simple text instructions, similar to other AI programs like Midjourney and Sora. The concern arises because Seedance appears to be using copyrighted material from Hollywood movies and characters. This has led to legal threats and public statements from major entertainment companies.

Context: The Rise of Seedance and Hollywood's Response

Seedance, developed by ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, allows users to generate videos using text prompts. Its capabilities, particularly Seedance 2.0, have quickly gained attention for producing clips that closely resemble content from well-known Hollywood films and feature popular characters.

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  • Viral Content: Videos created with Seedance, featuring characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool, have gone viral, particularly on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo.

  • ByteDance's Stance: ByteDance has stated that it respects intellectual property and that Seedance is intended for professional use in film, e-commerce, and advertising.

  • Legal Actions: In response to the widespread use of its intellectual property, entertainment giants like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount have issued legal warnings, including cease-and-desist letters, to ByteDance. Some studios are also urging platforms like Google to restrict the generation of their characters on AI systems.

  • Broader Trend: This situation is part of a larger trend where Chinese AI models are rapidly advancing, potentially posing a challenge to established industries like filmmaking.

Evidence of Concern and Capabilities

Reports indicate that Seedance's ability to replicate Hollywood's intellectual property with high accuracy is the primary source of concern.

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  • Creator Statements: Rhett Reese, a co-writer for "Deadpool & Wolverine," expressed personal concern, stating, "I myself am at risk."

  • AI Educator's View: Peter Yang, an AI educator, has noted that the model appears to contain copyright violations, with generated ideas lacking originality.

  • Comparison to Other Tools: Seedance is compared to other generative AI tools, but its apparent ease in replicating existing cinematic styles and characters has set it apart in terms of industry impact.

  • Viral Spread: Hashtags related to Seedance have garnered tens of millions of views on Weibo, indicating its widespread adoption and use within China.

Major Hollywood studios are actively pursuing legal avenues to address what they describe as massive copyright infringement by Chinese AI firms.

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  • Lawsuit Against MiniMax: Walt Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery have filed a copyright lawsuit against MiniMax, another Chinese firm, alleging that its AI video app, Hailuo, was developed using stolen intellectual property.

  • Allegations of "Hollywood in Your Pocket": The lawsuit claims MiniMax used copyrighted characters to promote its AI service, marketing it as a "Hollywood studio in your pocket."

  • Demand for Halting Infringement: The studios are seeking financial gains from the alleged infringement and a court order to stop MiniMax from offering its service without proper copyright protections.

  • Japan's Investigation: ByteDance is also reportedly under investigation in Japan for alleged copyright violations concerning AI videos of popular anime characters.

Industry Perspectives on the Threat

The rapid advancement of AI tools like Seedance is viewed by some in Hollywood as a significant threat to the film industry's business model.

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  • Cost-Effectiveness: Chinese AI models are described as being cheaper, faster, and broader in scope than their American counterparts, which could disrupt capital-intensive industries like filmmaking.

  • Existential Threat: Some observers believe these advanced AI models pose an "existential threat" to established filmmaking practices and intellectual property frameworks.

  • Concerns Over IP: The ability of AI to generate content that closely mimics existing copyrighted material raises fundamental questions about intellectual property rights and ownership in the digital age.

  • AI's Impact on Creativity: Concerns have been raised that AI-generated content, while impressive, may lack the originality and depth of human-created art.

ByteDance's Actions and Future Outlook

Following legal pressure and public outcry, ByteDance has indicated a willingness to modify its AI tool.

  • Curbing the App: ByteDance has pledged to curb the controversial AI video-making tool, Seedance, in response to legal threats from Disney and complaints from other entertainment companies.

  • Adding Safeguards: The company is reportedly adding safeguards to Seedance to address legal and ethical concerns.

  • Limited Availability: Seedance 2.0 is currently available as a limited test version in China.

  • Broader Struggle: The legal confrontations are seen as an initial step in a larger conflict over intellectual property rights and market control in the developing field of artificial intelligence.

Conclusion: Navigating AI's Impact on Intellectual Property

The emergence of Seedance and similar AI video generation tools presents a complex challenge for the entertainment industry. While these technologies offer new creative possibilities, their capacity to replicate copyrighted material raises significant legal and ethical questions. The ongoing legal actions and ByteDance's stated intention to implement safeguards indicate a critical juncture in how intellectual property will be protected and managed in the era of advanced AI. The situation highlights a global tension between technological innovation and the established frameworks of copyright law.

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  • Key Developments: Viral spread of AI-generated videos using copyrighted characters; legal threats and lawsuits from major Hollywood studios against Chinese AI firms; ByteDance's pledge to curb Seedance and add safeguards.

  • Unanswered Questions: The long-term implications for copyright law, the future of AI development in relation to intellectual property, and the ability of existing legal frameworks to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies remain to be seen.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Seedance AI tool and why is Hollywood concerned?
Seedance is a new AI video tool from China's ByteDance that creates videos from text. Hollywood is worried because it seems to use copyrighted movie characters and scenes without permission.
Q: Which Hollywood companies are taking action against Seedance?
Major studios like Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Paramount have sent legal warnings to ByteDance. Some are asking platforms to block their characters from being used in AI.
Q: What has ByteDance said about the Seedance AI tool?
ByteDance says it respects copyright and that Seedance is for professional use. They have also said they will make changes to the tool to address the concerns.
Q: What is the main problem with Seedance for Hollywood?
Seedance can create videos that look very similar to famous Hollywood movies and use popular characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool. This is seen as a big copyright violation.
Q: What other legal actions have been taken against Chinese AI firms?
Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery have also sued another Chinese AI company, MiniMax, for using stolen movie content to promote its app.
Q: What might happen next with AI and copyright?
This situation shows a growing fight over who owns creative work when AI is used. It raises questions about how copyright laws will protect movies and characters in the future.