MPA Reaches IP Protection Agreement with ByteDance

The Motion Picture Association and ByteDance announced a framework agreement aimed at protecting film and television intellectual property within ByteDance's AI video and image generation products, including Seedance and Seedream.

The deal follows an earlier cease-and-desist letter sent by the MPA in February 2026, after the release of Seedance 2.0 generated content featuring unauthorized depictions of actors such as Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. The agreement establishes protocols for IP rights holders to request removal or blocking of infringing AI outputs.

Both parties stated the MOU provides a structured process for ongoing collaboration on content identification and enforcement measures across generative AI platforms.

The arrangement addresses concerns over large-scale unauthorized use of protected works in AI training and output generation.

Sources: https://variety.com/2026/biz/news/motion-picture-association-deal-bytedance-ip-ai-seedance-1236836240/ https://www.thefashionlaw.com/