ByteDance Pledges Safeguards for Seedance 2.0 After Disney Legal Threat Over IP Violations

Chinese tech giant commits to strengthening protections for controversial AI video tool following cease-and-desist letters from Hollywood studios.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Chinese tech company ByteDance has pledged to strengthen safeguards for its AI video generation tool Seedance 2.0 after facing a barrage of cease-and-desist letters from major Hollywood studios like Disney and Paramount over alleged copyright infringement. The platform has been accused of using copyrighted characters and IP from franchises like Marvel, Star Wars, South Park, and more without authorization.

Why it matters

The controversy over Seedance 2.0 highlights the growing tensions between AI technology companies and the entertainment industry over the use of copyrighted intellectual property. It raises questions about the boundaries of fair use and the ability of AI tools to generate content that could undermine the livelihoods of creators.

The details

ByteDance told the BBC that it "respects intellectual property rights and we have heard the concerns regarding Seedance 2.0," and that it is "taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users." However, the company has not disclosed specifics on what those safeguards will entail. Disney, Paramount, and the Motion Picture Association have all issued cease-and-desist letters accusing ByteDance of blatant copyright infringement by pre-loading Seedance 2.0 with a "pirated library" of protected characters and content.

  • ByteDance launched Seedance 2.0 on February 12, 2026.
  • Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Paramount followed with its own cease-and-desist letter on Saturday, February 15, 2026.

The players

ByteDance

The Chinese tech giant that owns TikTok and developed the controversial AI video generation tool Seedance 2.0.

Disney

The major Hollywood studio that sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance accusing the company of copyright infringement by using protected IP from Marvel, Star Wars, and other Disney franchises in Seedance 2.0.

Paramount

The major Hollywood studio that also sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance targeting both Seedance 2.0 and the company's Seedream image generator for alleged blatant infringement of properties like South Park, Star Trek, and The Godfather.

Motion Picture Association

The trade group representing major Hollywood studios like Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix, which issued a strongly worded statement demanding ByteDance "immediately cease its infringing activity" on Seedance 2.0.

SAG-AFTRA

The actors' union that condemned the "blatant infringement" on Seedance 2.0, including the unauthorized use of its members' voices and likenesses.

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What’s next

ByteDance has not disclosed specific details on what safeguards it plans to implement for Seedance 2.0, but the company says it is taking steps to prevent further unauthorized use of copyrighted intellectual property on the platform.

The takeaway

The Seedance 2.0 controversy highlights the growing tensions between AI technology companies and the entertainment industry over the use of copyrighted content. It underscores the need for clear guidelines and stronger safeguards to protect the rights of creators as AI tools become more advanced and capable of generating realistic, copyrighted content.