ByteDance signs landmark AI copyright pact with Hollywood’s Motion Picture Association

ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association (MPA) signed a formal agreement  on Monday to implement stricter copyright safeguards across the tech giant's generative artificial intelligence models.

The agreement directly targets ByteDance's video-generation model, Seedance, and its image-generation model, Seedream (integrated into platforms like TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina).

It aims  to strengthen copyright safeguards on the Chinese company months after the Hollywood trade group challenged its handling of intellectual property.

ByteDance noted that subsequent iterations of Seedance and Seedream feature upgraded, robust intellectual property protections to prevent copyright misuse and respect creator rights.

The pact follows a heavy backlash and a cease-and-desist letter sent by the MPA in February. Major Hollywood studios including Disney objected fiercely when earlier versions of ByteDance's AI tools allowed users to generate high-quality unauthorized clips featuring copyrighted movie characters (such as Marvel and Star Wars figures) and unauthorized celebrity likenesses.

Disney and other studios in February raised concerns the AI tools could generate content featuring copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses ⁠without authorization.

ByteDance said newer versions of the models include stronger intellectual-property protections.

Models are offered through services including TikTok, CapCut ⁠and Dreamina.

The MPA's challenge came amid concerns that Seedance could generate content featuring copyrighted film ⁠and television characters without permission.

Both sides said they will continue collaborating ⁠on safeguards for copyrighted content as AI technology evolves.