According to a report by The Information, ByteDance has decided to postpone the global release of its AI video generation model, Seedance 2.0. The new tool, developed by the parent company of TikTok, was originally scheduled to launch globally in mid-March but has now been delayed due to legal risks.
Seedance 2.0 was first released in China this February. Short videos generated by the model quickly gained attention online, with one clip featuring a digitally recreated fight scene between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt sparking widespread controversy. The AI-generated content spread rapidly on social media and immediately drew strong reactions from Hollywood.
The report noted that, upon seeing the footage, a prominent screenwriter lamented, “It’s likely over for us,” expressing concerns about AI’s impact on the film and television industry. Тым часам, several major Hollywood studios swiftly took legal action, sending a flurry of cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance. Disney’s lawyers were particularly forceful in their response, accusing the company of a “virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP.”
Facing pressure from the film industry, ByteDance has pledged to strengthen its intellectual property protection measures. According to insiders, the company is now focusing its efforts on having the engineering and legal teams jointly develop solutions to avoid further legal disputes.
As of press time, ByteDance had not responded to TechCrunch’s request for comment. This incident has once again sparked industry discussion regarding copyright issues surrounding AI-generated content. Finding a balance between technological innovation and intellectual property protection is emerging as a common challenge for tech companies.