The The Walt Disney Company has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ByteDance, accusing the TikTok parent of using Disney-owned characters without permission to train and market Seedance 2.0, a new generative video model released this week.
According to a copy of the letter obtained by Axios, Disney alleges that Seedance can produce clips featuring recognizable IP from franchises including Star Wars and Marvel, and that the system’s outputs reflect unlawful copying and derivative use of protected characters. The letter cites examples such as Spider-Man, Darth Vader and Grogu appearing in generated videos, and argues the model effectively treats studio IP as free training material.
The dispute has widened beyond Disney’s catalog. In public statements this week, SAG-AFTRA said Seedance-enabled clips have used performers’ voices and likenesses without consent and called the tool “unacceptable,” while the Motion Picture Association warned the service engaged in “unauthorized use” of U.S. copyrighted works “on a massive scale,” urging ByteDance to halt infringing activity.
ByteDance had not publicly responded to the Disney letter as of Saturday, Feb. 14. On its product page, the company markets Seedance 2.0 as a system that can generate video using text plus image, audio and video references with tight control over camera and performance—capabilities that rights holders say raise the stakes for enforcement if safeguards fail. Disney, which has pursued multiple actions against alleged AI-driven infringement, has also signaled interest in licensing and partnerships when terms protect its IP, underscoring the industry’s split between experimentation and litigation.
