Sony Pictures Entertainment has joined a growing chorus of Hollywood studios protesting the use of their intellectual property by Seedance 2.0, a Chinese video platform. The dispute centers on allegations of copyright infringement stemming from AI-generated content.
Hollywood Studios Take Action
On Wednesday, Sony Pictures sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance, demanding the immediate removal of its copyrighted material – including “Breaking Bad” and films from the “Spider-Verse” series – from Seedance 2.0’s AI training data. Jill Ratner, general counsel of Sony Pictures Entertainment, stated that the studio believes ByteDance’s infringements are “willful” due to the lack of copyright protections at the platform’s launch.
This action follows similar letters from other major studios, including Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., and Netflix. ByteDance has responded by stating it will strengthen safeguards to prevent copyright infringement and misuse of actors’ likenesses, but this has not satisfied the studios.
Sony Pictures, through Ratner, indicated it will not accept “delayed or half-baked measures” and expects “effective, robust, and meaningful guardrails” to be implemented immediately.
AI-Generated Content Fuels Dispute
The controversy arose after AI-generated clips created with Seedance 2.0 began circulating on social media last week. Users have been creating content such as superhero fight scenes and alternate endings to popular shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things.”
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), representing studios including Amazon, Universal Studios, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Warner Bros. And Disney, initially condemned Seedance 2.0 on February 12, calling for an immediate cessation of infringing activity. Netflix followed on Wednesday with a threat of “immediate litigation” if ByteDance does not comply.
The studios are also pursuing legal action against other AI video models, including Midjourney and MiniMax. However, serving legal notices to ByteDance and MiniMax, both based in China, has proven difficult, with estimates suggesting it could take 18 to 24 months to complete the process through the Chinese Ministry of Justice and the Hague Convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seedance 2.0?
Seedance 2.0 is a Chinese video platform that uses artificial intelligence to generate videos from text prompts.
Which studios have protested Seedance 2.0?
Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros., Netflix, Sony Pictures, and the Motion Picture Association (representing Amazon and Universal Studios) have all protested Seedance 2.0.
What is ByteDance’s response to the protests?
ByteDance has stated it will strengthen safeguards to prevent copyright infringement and misuse of actors’ likenesses.
As legal battles potentially loom, and the complexities of international law reach into play, will ByteDance be able to adequately address the concerns of Hollywood studios and navigate the evolving landscape of AI-generated content?