ByteDance signs AI copyright agreement with Motion Picture Association

ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association sign an agreement on August 17, 2026, to strengthen copyright safeguards on ByteDance's Seedance video and Seedream image-generation models. The deal follows a February 2026 cease-and-desist letter from the association and concerns from Disney and other studios that the artificial intelligence tools could generate copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses without authorization. ByteDance states newer versions of the models, which are available on TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina, feature stronger protections.

ByteDance-MPA copyright agreement

• ▪ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association signed an agreement on August 17, 2026, to strengthen copyright safeguards on ByteDance's AI video and image-generation models
• ▪ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association stated on August 17, 2026, that both organizations will continue collaborating on safeguards for copyrighted content as artificial intelligence technology evolves

MPA cease-and-desist letter

• ▪The Motion Picture Association sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance in February 2026 over ByteDance's artificial intelligence video and image-generation tools
• ▪The Motion Picture Association challenged ByteDance's handling of intellectual property months before signing the August 17, 2026 copyright agreement

Studio concerns over AI

• ▪The Motion Picture Association's challenge to ByteDance arose from concerns that the Seedance model could generate content featuring copyrighted film and television characters without permission
• ▪Disney and other Hollywood studios raised concerns in February 2026 that ByteDance's artificial intelligence tools could generate content featuring copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses without authorization

Seedance video generation model

• ▪The August 17, 2026 agreement between ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association covers ByteDance's Seedance video-generation model
• ▪ByteDance offers its artificial intelligence models, including the Seedance video-generation model, through services such as TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina

Seedream image generation model

• ▪The August 17, 2026 agreement between ByteDance and the Motion Picture Association covers ByteDance's Seedance video-generation model
• ▪ByteDance offers its artificial intelligence models, including the Seedance video-generation model, through services such as TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina

Intellectual property protections

• ▪ByteDance stated that newer versions of its artificial intelligence models include stronger intellectual-property protections
• ▪The August 17, 2026 agreement aims to establish stronger intellectual-property protections on ByteDance's artificial intelligence models