Netflix and Warner Bros join Disney and Paramount in calling out ByteDance’s latest AI platform

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Once a convincing fake video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting became popular online, a lot more content created using the Seedance 2.0 AI program started appearing everywhere.

People were experimenting with a new AI video tool from ByteDance to create alternate endings for popular shows like “Game of Thrones” and “Stranger Things.” They also used it to imagine epic battles, pitting famous characters like Wolverine against Superman, or a Transformer against Godzilla.

Seedance videos quickly became popular online, gaining millions of views. This success has drawn criticism from Hollywood groups like SAG-AFTRA and the Motion Picture Assn., who are concerned about the AI technology behind the platform. Now, several major movie studios are considering lawsuits against ByteDance, the company that also owns TikTok.

Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, and Disney have each issued legal notices demanding that someone stop illegally copying and sharing their copyrighted movies and shows.

Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery recently took legal action against ByteDance, issuing cease and desist letters on Tuesday.

Netflix is taking a stand against ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, accusing them of illegally using elements from their shows. In a letter, Netflix calls their security system “Seedance” and states they won’t allow ByteDance to freely copy their creative work. Specifically, they claim ByteDance has improperly used sets inspired by “Squid Game,” costumes from “Bridgerton,” and character designs from “KPop Demon Hunters.”

Hollywood Inc.

Hollywood is reacting negatively to a new AI video generator created by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.

Warner Bros. Discovery claims that ByteDance is illegally using its copyrighted content – including characters from popular franchises like “Harry Potter,” “Lord of the Rings,” and superheroes like Batman – to train its AI technology. The studio alleges this use of their material happened without permission and constitutes copyright infringement.

According to Warner Bros. Discovery’s legal executive, Wayne Smith, users aren’t responsible for the copyright issues with Seedance. The app already contained copyrighted characters belonging to Warner Bros. Discovery when it was created, and ByteDance intentionally included them. ByteDance made a deliberate decision to build the app this way, laying the groundwork for the infringement.

Disney and Paramount were the first movie studios to publicly criticize ByteDance, sending letters last Friday and Saturday. Disney claims ByteDance’s Seedance service is filled with illegally copied characters from Disney’s popular franchises like Star Wars and Marvel.

As a huge Disney fan, I was really shocked to read about this! Apparently, ByteDance is basically using Disney characters without permission – reproducing them, sharing them around, and even making new things based on them. Disney’s lawyer, David Singer, told Axios it’s a deliberate, widespread grab for their intellectual property, and honestly, it sounds completely unfair to me. It’s a real problem when someone just takes what isn’t theirs, especially iconic characters we all love.

The Times reviewed a letter from Paramount that accuses ByteDance of using copyrighted material without permission, echoing similar claims the company has made before.

Hollywood Inc.

A fake video showing Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt in a fight became incredibly popular online earlier this week, causing concern for both artists and the film industry.

After getting some serious letters about copyright issues, ByteDance has promised to do a better job of protecting creators’ work. As someone who loves film and seeing original content, that’s really good to hear – it’s vital they safeguard what people create!

ByteDance understands and respects intellectual property rights, and we’ve received feedback about Seedance 2.0. We are improving our systems to stop users from using copyrighted material or someone’s image without permission, as a company spokesperson told CNBC.

Dan Purcell, CEO of Midnight Labs – a company using AI to protect valuable entertainment content – believes these letters of concern from the studios might be coming a little late. He suggests the issues raised may not be directly related to the safeguards in place, or even be a reaction to them at all.

According to Purcell, once AI creates fake content, it spreads incredibly quickly and widely. By the time legal teams get involved, the harm is already done. He believes the solution is strong licensing rules, immediate enforcement, and meaningful penalties. Simply sending cease-and-desist letters after the fact won’t be enough. The industry must respond as quickly as AI evolves, rather than waiting for legal battles to play out.

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2026-02-19 01:31