ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok, has decided to limit the operation of Seedance, its generative AI platform for hyper-realistic videos, after facing strong pressure from Disney and other major Hollywood studios. These companies accuse ByteDance of allowing the creation of content that infringes copyright, a concern they have previously expressed regarding other AI tools. Disney recently claimed that Seedance included a "pirated library" with copyrighted characters, such as those from Marvel and Star Wars. The latest update of the app has made it easier to generate hyper-realistic videos featuring recognizable figures from film and television, leading to the rapid spread of fictional scenes on social media. In response, ByteDance announced that it will strengthen its security systems to prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property and the image of characters by users. According to statements reported by the BBC, the company stated that it "respects intellectual property rights" and is taking steps to address concerns about the new version of Seedance. This episode represents a new chapter in Disney's battle against generative AI platforms. The company has already filed similar complaints against other tech firms, such as Midjourney and Google (with its Gemini system). However, in the case of OpenAI, Disney opted for a deal that allows the use of its characters in ChatGPT, following a $1 billion investment. (Source: lavanguardia.com)