Last month, a captivating AI-generated video featuring a fight scene between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt went viral, leaving many curious to try similar tools. However, if you were hoping to explore such technology, you might have to hold off for a bit longer. ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has indefinitely postponed the launch of its new video-generation model, Seedance 2.0. This model was intended to rival other generative AI tools, including OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo.
This decision stems from ongoing copyright disputes with Hollywood studios and streaming services, as reported by The Information. Originally, ByteDance aimed to unveil Seedance 2.0 in mid-March, but those plans are currently on hold. The company’s legal team is now focused on resolving outstanding legal issues related to this launch. Meanwhile, the engineering team is tasked with implementing safeguards to prevent the model from producing content that could trigger copyright conflicts.
The beta version of Seedance launched in February, initially limited to users of ByteDance’s Chinese applications. It garnered significant attention in Hollywood after many of its creations went viral. Rhett Reese, the screenwriter for Deadpool, reposted the Cruise and Pitt video, commenting, “I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.” Other imaginative videos, including Will Smith battling a spaghetti monster and the cast of Friends depicted as otters, also gained popularity across social media platforms.
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Some significant players in the media industry are already expressing their concerns about Seedance. Recently, Disney issued ByteDance a cease-and-desist letter, accusing the company of using copyrighted characters from well-known franchises like Star Wars and Marvel as if they were public-domain clip art. Additionally, Paramount Skydance has allegedly sent its own cease-and-desist letter, claiming that ByteDance facilitates “blatant infringement” of its intellectual property, which includes properties like Star Trek, South Park, and Dora the Explorer, according to a report by Variety.
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Seedance is not the only platform grappling with these issues. The entire landscape of emerging video-generation tools, much like the broader AI industry, faces challenges regarding the handling of existing intellectual property rights. In 2025, OpenAI’s Sora will expand its capabilities by allowing more control to rights holders in response to a plethora of content that involves existing IP—from characters like Pikachu to subjects like Oppenheimer.
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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I accumulated bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since the days of installing games via multiple CD-ROMs. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of technology and humanity, having covered a range of topics from crypto scandals and the art world to conspiracy theories, UK politics, and international relations.
