ByteDance, the Chinese technology company behind TikToksaid it would restrict its AI video creation tool, after threats of legal action from Disney and backlash from other media companies, according to reports.
AI video generator Seedance 2.0, released last week, has spooked Hollywood as users create realistic clips of movie stars and superheroes with just a short text prompt.
Several major Hollywood studios have accused the tool of copyright infringement.
On Friday, Walt Disney reportedly sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance accusing it of providing Seedance with a “pirated library” of studio characters, including those from Marvel and Star Wars, according to American media Axios.
Disney’s lawyers claimed that ByteDance committed “virtual destruction” of their intellectual property, according to a BBC report.
However, TikTok’s owner told the BBC that it “respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns about Seedance 2.0.”
A spokesperson for the company told the broadcaster it was “taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property and imagery by users”, but declined to provide further details on its plans.
Seedance can generate videos based on just a few lines of text. Last week, Rhett Reese, co-writer of Deadpool & Wolverine, Zombieland and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, said: “it’s probably over for us” after watching a widely circulated AI-generated clip featuring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting.
He added: “In a very short time, a person will be able to sit down at a computer and create a movie that is indistinguishable from what Hollywood is putting out now. That’s right, if that person isn’t good, it will suck. But if that person has the talent and taste of Christopher Nolan (and someone like that will come along quickly), it will be great.”
The first iteration of Seedance launched in June last year.
The Motion Picture Association, Hollywood’s trade association that represents studios such as Paramount, Warner Bros and Netflix, has accused ByteDance of “large-scale unauthorized use of works protected by US copyright.” Actors union Sag-Aftra accused Seedance of “blatant violation.”
It’s the latest clash in Hollywood amid concerns about the impact of AI on the future of entertainment. Artists and creative industries have called for compensation for use of their equipment and the establishment of licensing frameworks to enable legal use of their content.
Last year, Disney and NBCUniversal sued AI image generator Midjourney over what the studios claimed were “endless unauthorized copies” of their works.
However, creative companies are also striking deals with AI companies. Last year, Disney announces $1 billion equity investment in OpenAIthe developer of ChatGPT, and a three-year licensing agreement that allows its video generation tool Sora to use certain Disney characters.
ByteDance and Walt Disney have been contacted for comment.