In August 2026, the Motion Picture Association and ByteDance announced they reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reflecting a shared framework to maintain strong guardrails on generative AI video and image models like Seedance and Seedream – offered by TikTok, the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, CapCut and Dreamina, among others – with the goal of protecting intellectual property.
This agreement represents significant cooperation between the two organizations. Shortly after the MPA sent a cease and desist letter to ByteDance in February in connection with Seedream 5.0 Lite and Seedance 2.0, the parties engaged in constructive conversations. More recently, the launches of Seedream 5.0 Pro and Seedance 2.5 have reflected ByteDance’s continued advances in IP protections.
“Today’s agreement illustrates our belief that copyright is a cornerstone of the film and television industry – and reinforces our commitment to protect creative content,” said MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin. “For the past several months, we have had constructive engagement with ByteDance to implement meaningful guardrails on Seedance and Seedream, and this MOU reflects our shared determination to continue our work together to further fortify those guardrails.”
“ByteDance respects the intellectual property rights that underpin creative industries around the world, and we believe responsible innovation in AI goes hand in hand with meaningful protections for rightsholders,” said John Rogovin, General Counsel, ByteDance. “We appreciate the productive engagement with the MPA and its members as we continue to strengthen safeguards across our generative AI services. This MOU establishes an important framework for continued collaboration as the technology evolves, across a variety of products and platforms.”
Why it matters
The MOU is an important step forward in establishing that IP can and should be protected in the generative AI space, and it formalizes meaningful progress in recent months to further strengthen safeguards on ByteDance’s platforms. As AI evolves, the MPA and ByteDance will continue working together to protect creative content in markets worldwide.
Further reading
MPA and Bytedance announce global agreement to protect intellectual property on AI video and image generation models. Press release. August 17, 2026. Motion Picture Association
MPA strikes first AI truce with Bytedance. Article (Paywall). August 17, 2026. Los Angeles Times
