The launch of the new video generation model Seedance 2.0 sparked widespread outrage in Hollywood, following accusations that it had become an easy tool for violating intellectual property rights and reproducing protected characters and works without permission.
The model was launched by ByteDance, which owns the TikTok app, and allows users to create short videos of up to 15 seconds in length based on simple text commands, similar to OpenAI's Sora tool, according to a report published by TechCrunch and reviewed by Al Arabiya Business.
According to US media reports, the model is now available to users of the Jianying app in China and will later be rolled out globally via the CapCut app.
However, it quickly faced harsh criticism for what critics described as a "lack of effective controls" to prevent the generation of content using the features of real actors or characters owned by major studios.
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Controversy escalated after a clip showing actor Tom Cruise in a fight with Brad Pitt was circulated, said to have been produced with only two text commands, prompting Deadpool screenwriter Rhett Reese to comment that this could spell the end for traditional content creators.
For its part, the Motion Picture Association issued a strongly worded statement in which its CEO, Charles Rifkin, called on the Chinese company to immediately cease what he described as widespread copyright infringement, asserting that launching a service without real safeguards against infringement undermines laws that protect millions of jobs in the American creative sector.
The Human Artistry Campaign also condemned the new model, calling it an attack on every creator around the world, while the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) announced its support for the studios in the face of what it described as a flagrant violation.
Reports indicate that Seedance clips included Disney-owned characters such as Spider-Man, Darth Vader, and Grogu, prompting the company to send a legal notice to cease use and accuse ByteDance of reproducing and distributing derivative works of its characters without permission.
In the same vein, reports indicate that Paramount also sent a similar legal letter, arguing that the content produced by the platform includes scenes that are almost indistinguishable visually and aurally from its film and television works.
Although some studios are not opposed to collaborating with AI companies—Disney has signed a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI — the current dispute reflects the escalating confrontation between Silicon Valley and Hollywood, as video generation capabilities accelerate and come closer to simulating professional film production with remarkable accuracy.