ByteDance has indefinitely postponed the global API release of its highly anticipated video-generation model, Seedance 2.0, following a wave of legal challenges from Hollywood’s major film studios. Originally scheduled for February 24, 2026, the rollout was halted as the company faces accusations of "systemic" copyright infringement. While the model remains available to a limited user base within China, the global expansion has been paused to implement stricter safety guardrails and intellectual property (IP) filters.

Why the February 24 Seedance 2.0 Release Was Postponed

The decision to delay the API launch stems from a coordinated legal backlash that began almost immediately after the model’s domestic debut on February 12. According to industry reports, the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and studios including Disney, Netflix, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros. issued cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance. Disney Sends Cease-and-Desist to China’s ByteDance Over Seedance 2.0 AI Copyright Violations.

The primary triggers for the postponement include:

  • Unauthorized IP Training: Studios allege that Seedance 2.0 was trained on their copyrighted films and television shows without permission or compensation.

  • Viral Deepfakes: High-fidelity AI videos featuring unauthorized likenesses, most notably a fight scene between Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, sparked outrage from SAG-AFTRA over the potential for mass identity theft.

  • Safety Audit: ByteDance stated it is using the delay to "strengthen current safeguards" to prevent users from generating content based on real individuals' faces or protected characters like those from the Marvel and Star Wars franchises.

Seedance 2.0 Release Date

ByteDance has not yet provided a revised timeline for the global API release. No new release date for Seedance 2.0 is set for now.

Seedance 2.0 Price

Seedance 2.0 is positioned as a high-efficiency, cost-effective alternative to models like OpenAI's Sora 2, with a pricing structure centered on accessibility for both casual creators and enterprise developers. For individual users, access is primarily through ByteDance's Jimeng (Dreamina) platform, where memberships start at 69 RMB (approximately USD 9.60) per month. This subscription typically includes a daily credit allowance, with a standard 5-second cinematic clip costing roughly 3 RMB (USD 0.42) to generate - a massive reduction compared to traditional VFX costs.

For developers, the Seedance 2.0 API follows a pay-as-you-go model, with rates estimated between USD 0.10 and USD 0.80 per minute of generated video depending on the resolution. Notably, the model's high "success rate" (reported at over 90%) significantly lowers the "hidden cost" of wasted credits, making it one of the most budget-friendly professional-grade video tools on the market. What Is Seedance 2.0? All About ByteDance’s New AI Video Model Going Viral in China As Elon Musk Says ‘It’s Happening Fast’.

Seedance 2.0 Official Website and Global Access

The official home for the model and its technical documentation is https://seed.bytedance.com/en/seedance2_0 (https://seed.bytedance.com) While the site showcases the model's capabilities - such as joint audio-video generation and native 2K resolution - direct access remains restricted.

Currently, Seedance 2.0 is primarily accessible via:

  • Jimeng AI (China): Available to users with a verified Chinese ID and a domestic Douyin account.

  • Jianying (CapCut China): Integrated into the professional version of ByteDance’s video editor under the name "Xiaoyunque."

  • International Status: For global creators, the international version of the platform, Dreamina, is still utilizing Seedance 1.5 Pro while the 2.0 version undergoes regulatory and legal scrubbing.

Seedance 2.0: A 'DeepSeek Moment' for Video

Seedance 2.0 has been described by tech analysts as the "second DeepSeek shock," referring to its ability to rival Western models like OpenAI’s Sora 2 at a significantly lower cost. The model is the first to support "4-modality input," allowing users to combine text, images, video, and audio prompts simultaneously to direct a single scene.

Despite its technical brilliance, the "violate first, patch later" strategy has placed ByteDance in the crosshairs of global regulators. Beyond the US, Japanese authorities have also opened inquiries after viral clips featured unauthorized versions of popular anime characters.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 25, 2026 02:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).