The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and ByteDance have struck Hollywood's first formal agreement on AI copyright protections, signing a memorandum of understanding that establishes a global framework for safeguarding intellectual property in generative AI models.

The deal, announced on August 17, covers ByteDance's Seedance and Seedream AI models — tools used for generating video and images — and their deployment across TikTok, CapCut, and Dreamina. The agreement sets standards for how copyrighted film and television content can and cannot be used to train or generate AI outputs.

The pact represents a truce in a dispute that had escalated throughout early 2026. In February, the MPA had issued cease-and-desist orders against Seedream 5.0 Lite and Seedance 2.0, alleging unauthorized use of copyrighted material. MPA chair Charles Rivkin called copyright 'an industry cornerstone' in announcing the agreement.

Notably, no licensing fees were disclosed — the deal functions more as a set of guardrails and shared principles than a financial arrangement. It establishes protocols for content identification, removal mechanisms, and ongoing collaboration between the two parties.

The agreement is significant as the first formal deal between a major Hollywood trade group and a Chinese tech company on AI copyright, potentially setting a template for future negotiations between the entertainment industry and AI developers worldwide.

Sources