ByteDance has signed a copyright agreement with the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) to govern the use of artificial intelligence in entertainment content.
The pact, disclosed on Monday, establishes licensing terms for AI-generated performances and digital replicas of actors, aiming to resolve disputes over intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving digital media landscape. The agreement follows months of negotiations between the Chinese tech giant and the Hollywood trade group, which represents over 160,000 media professionals.
Under the terms, ByteDance commits to obtaining explicit permissions before using AI to replicate or manipulate an actor’s voice, image, or likeness in its platforms, including TikTok and other digital content services. The deal also includes provisions for compensation and credit for performers whose work is utilized in AI-generated content.
The agreement reflects broader industry efforts to address ethical and legal concerns surrounding AI in entertainment, where studios and platforms increasingly rely on synthetic media for cost efficiency and creative flexibility. SAG-AFTRA has been a vocal advocate for stricter regulations on AI use in media, citing risks of unauthorized exploitation of performers’ likenesses.
ByteDance, which operates TikTok and other global platforms, has not disclosed financial terms of the agreement but emphasized compliance with existing copyright and labor laws. The company’s participation in the pact underscores its growing engagement with U.S. entertainment industry stakeholders amid regulatory scrutiny over data privacy and content moderation.
