Paramount Sends ByteDance Cease-and-Desist Letter Over Seedance AI Videos, Alleging Intellectual Property Infringement

Paramount Skydance has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, alleging that the company is engaging in “blatant infringement” of its intellectual property through its Seedance AI video and Seedream image generative AI platforms. The letter cites unauthorized use of characters from popular franchises such as “South Park,” “Star Trek,” and “The Godfather.” This action follows significant backlash from Hollywood regarding the release of Seedance 2.0, which has been condemned by the Human Artistry Campaign, including members from SAG-AFTRA and the Directors Guild of America, as “destructive to culture” and a tool for blatant copyright infringement (Paramount, Deadline, Variety). Disney has also taken a strong stance against Seedance 2.0, sending a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance. Disney accuses the company of using a "pirated library" of its copyrighted characters, including those from the Star Wars and Marvel franchises, to train its AI model. The letter claims that Seedance 2.0 has generated videos featuring characters like Spider-Man and Darth Vader without permission, which Disney describes as a "virtual smash-and-grab" of their intellectual property (Engadget, Euronews). Despite the controversy, Seedance 2.0 has received praise for its capabilities. However, it has faced multiple cease-and-desist letters regarding copyright infringement, highlighting ongoing tensions between technological advancements in AI and the protection of intellectual property rights within the entertainment industry (Euronews, Deadline). In response to the backlash, ByteDance has announced plans to enhance safeguards for Seedance 2.0, although specific details regarding these measures have not been disclosed (Euronews, Deadline).