ByteDance Bets on Safety with New AI Video Tool

ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, has launched a new version of its AI video generator, Seedance 2.0, with a distinctive feature: hardwired copyright protection. The tool is designed to refuse requests to create videos featuring characters like Mickey Mouse or any Marvel superhero, aiming to sidestep the legal battles engulfing the AI sector.

The move is a clear attempt to position the Chinese tech giant as a responsible player. It comes as media conglomerates, led by aggressive defenders like Disney, are suing AI firms for training models on copyrighted work without permission. For ByteDance, already under intense regulatory scrutiny in the West, avoiding a new front of legal conflict is a priority.

According to technical reports, the system works by scanning user prompts for references to known intellectual property. If someone asks for Spider-Man, the request is blocked. The company says it also uses visual recognition to catch generated content that accidentally resembles a protected character, even if not named in the prompt.

In a crowded field with tools like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo pushing for the most realistic output, ByteDance's strategy is a calculated gamble. It may limit some creative experimentation, but the company is betting that professional clients—ad agencies, studios, marketers—will prefer a tool that reduces legal risk. For them, built-in compliance is a feature, not a bug.

While some skeptics question whether the filters can be fooled or see the move as public relations, the announcement signals a shift. As lawsuits pile up and governments draft new rules, the industry's freewheeling early days are ending. ByteDance has just drawn a very clear line.