Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt’s AI-Generated Fight Video Stuns Hollywood

Paramount, Skydance, and Disney File Formal Complaints Against ByteDance Over Unauthorized Content Use Leading Hollywood studios have formally accused Chinese technology giant ByteDance of widespread copyright violations. The company, which owns platforms like Seedance and Seedream, is alleged to be using copyrighted materials without authorization from rights holders to train its generative AI systems. Collective Hollywood Protest Against ByteDance On February 15, 2026, Paramount, Skydance, and Disney jointly submitted official letters to ByteDance’s CEO Liang Rubo, demanding an immediate cease and desist from these illegal activities. The correspondence highlights the use of intellectual property from renowned franchises such as South Park, Star Trek, The Godfather, and Dora the Explorer. Previously, Disney had issued a similar protest, with legal representatives claiming that ByteDance has assembled a “pirated library” containing characters from Star Wars and Marvel, treating these protected works as if they were public domain and free to use. Disney’s spokesperson, David Singer, stated to Variety, “ByteDance’s systematic theft of intellectual property is intentional, widespread, and completely unacceptable.” Controversial Deepfake Video Sparks Industry Alarm The controversy gained momentum following the creation of a highly realistic video on the Seedance 2.0 platform, depicting a rooftop fight scene between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. The lifelike quality of the clip quickly went viral on social media, drawing industry concern. Experts acknowledge that while such AI-generated videos demonstrate the technological advancements in generative AI, they also pose significant risks to actors’ rights and franchise ownership. Industry Response and Future Outlook In response, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) issued a strong statement this week condemning ByteDance’s actions and calling for an immediate halt to the copyright violations. As of now, ByteDance has not publicly responded to these allegations. Analysts foresee that in the upcoming months, Hollywood studios may pursue joint legal action against ByteDance and that regulatory agencies might increase oversight on the application of generative AI within the entertainment sector.