Chinese technology giant ByteDance has pledged to curb its controversial artificial intelligence (AI) video-making tool Seedance, following complaints from major studios and streamers.
Last week, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) – which represents major US studios and streamers – called on Seedance 2.0 to “immediately cease" infringing copyright with its clips based on existing films and shows.
Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO of the MPA, said: "In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of US copyrighted works on a massive scale. By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs. ByteDance should immediately cease its infringing activity.”
Disney also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing it of supplying Seedance with a "pirated library" of the studio's copyrighted characters, including those from Marvel and Star Wars.
Seedance can create videos based on short text prompts. Many clips on the service are based on real actors and shows, and some have gone viral since the launch of its latest 2.0 version on 12 February. One clip features a highly realistic fight between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.
This week, ByteDance told the BBC that the company "respects intellectual property rights” and has “heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0."
"We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property and likeness by users."
The Walt Disney Company recently agreed to invest $1bn in OpenAI, enabling users to make videos with its copyrighted characters on the video generation app, Sora. Discover more here.
Netflix forecast to reach 400 million subscribers by 2031
Netflix is forecast to reach nearly 400 million subscribers worldwide by the end of 2031, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading subscription streaming platform despite growing consolidation across the industry.
Early Freeview switch-off would be “unprecedented gamble” for UK TV
Switching off Freeview in the 2030s would be far more complex, costly, and risky than the UK’s digital TV switchover, according to a report by Christy Swords, the former Director of Change at ITV Broadcasting, who was involved in the original process.
RTS names Chair of Student Television Awards at annual ceremony
At the annual awards ceremony, the Royal Television Society (RTS) welcomed Rhuanedd Richards as Chair of the Student Television Awards.
.jpg)
Sony invests seven figures in AI copyright protection startup
The Sony Innovation Fund has invested in Midnight Labs to protect IP from mass piracy, deepfakes, and AI-generated infringement in the US and Japanese markets.
CMA formally begins investigating Paramount's $110bn WBD merger
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published the commencement notice for its investigation of Paramount Skydance’s anticipated acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), marking the official beginning of the inquiry.
