Disney has raised serious concerns over the use of its copyrighted characters in a new AI video tool. The issue involves Seedance 2.0, an AI model developed by the Chinese technology firm ByteDance.
The company said on Monday it will take steps to stop the unauthorized use of intellectual property. This came after legal threats from major U.S. studios, including Disney.
Seedance 2.0 was released last week and quickly became popular in China. Several videos created by the tool went viral online. One showed famous actors in scenes they never performed.
The AI model was praised for its cinematic quality. Users said it could generate complex stories using only short prompts. Some experts compared it to other advanced AI systems.
However, Disney sent a formal cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance. The letter claimed that Disney characters were used without permission. A source familiar with the matter shared this with media outlets.
Disney alleged that Seedance was trained using pirated content. This included characters from major franchises like Star Wars and Marvel. The studio said these characters were presented as public-domain material.
The letter also claimed the tool was reproducing and distributing copyrighted works. These included popular characters like Spider-Man and Darth Vader. Disney said this could mislead users and harm creative industries.
In response, ByteDance said it is improving its safeguards. The company said it wants to prevent misuse of intellectual property. It did not share details about the new measures.
Another U.S. studio, Paramount Skydance, also sent a legal notice. It accused ByteDance of clear copyright infringement. This was reported by entertainment media over the weekend.
This is not the first time Disney has taken such action. The company previously warned Character.AI over similar issues. Disney demanded the removal of its characters from the platform.
In contrast, Disney has also formed legal partnerships. In December, Disney signed a licensing deal with OpenAI. This allowed OpenAI to use Disney characters in its Sora video generator.
Experts say the case highlights growing tensions between AI firms and content creators. Many studios worry that AI tools use protected content without consent.
Disney believes such practices could weaken copyright laws. It argues that creative work should not be treated as free data.
ByteDance now faces pressure to prove its system respects legal boundaries. Regulators may also review how AI models are trained.
Disney remains firm in protecting its intellectual property. The company says innovation must not come at the cost of creators’ rights.
In orther news read more about Disney Brings ‘The Muppet Show’ Back To Screens After Long Hiatus
As AI tools grow more powerful, similar disputes are expected. The outcome could shape future rules for AI and digital content.
