MPA Sends Cease and Desist Letter to ByteDance Over Seedance 2.0 Videos
Hollywood Reporter
by Katie KilkennyFebruary 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has taken a significant step in addressing the growing issue of copyright infringement by AI tools, sending its first-ever cease and desist letter to ByteDance over its Seedance 2.0 video generator. The MPA accuses the Chinese tech company of systemic copyright violations, arguing that the tool’s unauthorized use of intellectual property is not an accidental flaw but a deliberate feature. This marks a new chapter in the clash between AI innovation and creative industry protections.
The letter highlights instances where Seedance 2.0 has generated viral content featuring prominent Hollywood figures like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, as well as characters from major films such as Spider-Man and Transformers. The MPA claims that ByteDance trained its AI model using copyrighted material without permission, leading to the widespread distribution of infringing content. Studios like Warner Bros., Disney, and Paramount have also joined the legal fray, sending their own warnings to ByteDance.
ByteDance has responded by acknowledging the importance of intellectual property rights and implementing measures to address the issue. However, the MPA insists that these efforts are insufficient and calls for more robust solutions to prevent further infringement. The organization emphasizes that the problem lies not with individual users but in ByteDance’s design and implementation of Seedance 2.0.
The case has sparked concerns among entertainment professionals about the broader implications of
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Originally published on Hollywood Reporter on 2/20/2026