| name | seedance-copyright |
| description | Check prompts against Seedance 2.0 content policy, apply safe IP substitutions, and navigate real-person and brand restrictions. Updated with live Feb 2026 enforcement data from Disney, Paramount, MPA, and SAG-AFTRA actions. Use before every generation that involves named characters, franchise IP, celebrity likenesses, brand logos, or streaming originals. |
| license | MIT |
| user-invocable | true |
| user-invokable | true |
| tags | ["copyright","content-policy","ip","openclaw","antigravity","gemini-cli","codex","cursor"] |
| metadata | {"version":"5.0.0","updated":"2026-03-03","openclaw":{"emoji":"⚖️","homepage":"https://github.com/Emily2040/seedance-2.0"},"parent":"seedance-20","antigravity":{"emoji":"⚖️","homepage":"https://github.com/Emily2040/seedance-2.0"},"gemini-cli":{"emoji":"⚖️","homepage":"https://github.com/Emily2040/seedance-2.0"},"author":"Emily (@iamemily2050)","repository":"https://github.com/Emily2040/seedance-2.0"} |
seedance-copyright
Content policy and IP protection rules for Seedance 2.0.
Every generation must clear this checklist before submission.
⚠️ Feb 2026 Enforcement Context
What happened (Feb 12–25, 2026):
ByteDance launched Seedance 2.0 on Feb 12. Within days, Disney, Paramount Skydance, Netflix, the Motion Picture Association (MPA), and SAG-AFTRA all sent cease-and-desist letters. Disney's letter called it a "virtual smash-and-grab" of IP. Netflix labelled it a "high-speed piracy engine." The Japanese government opened a regulatory investigation.
ByteDance's response (Feb 15): "We are taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorised use of intellectual property and likeness by users."
API global release was delayed from the planned Feb 24 date. No new release date set (as of Feb 25).
What this means for prompts: Hard blocks are stricter than v3.0. Many character/likeness filters have been tightened. Assume any named franchise character, actor, or streamer-original content will be refused or silently degraded.
The Core Principle
Seedance blocks content that references specific protected intellectual property.
The model does not block concepts, aesthetics, or archetypes — only named, owned identities.
Your job: describe the idea without naming its owner.
Hard Blocks (Always Refused)
These will trigger a content refusal regardless of framing:
| Category | Examples | Why blocked |
|---|
| Real human face by name | "Elon Musk", "Taylor Swift", "Obama", "Tom Cruise" | Right of publicity / likeness rights |
| Named franchise characters | "Iron Man", "Spider-Man", "Darth Vader", "Deadpool" | Disney/Marvel IP (cease-and-desist active) |
| Named Pixar / Disney Animation | "Elsa", "Woody", "Wall-E", "Simba" | Disney IP |
| Named anime characters | "Naruto", "Goku", "Luffy", "Levi", "Demon Slayer" | Studio/publisher IP + Japan gov investigation |
| Named game characters | "Mario", "Master Chief", "Geralt", "Kratos" | Nintendo/Microsoft/Sony/CD Projekt IP |
| Named streaming originals | "Stranger Things characters", "Squid Game guard", "Bridgerton" | Netflix IP (cease-and-desist active) |
| Paramount IP | "Shrek", "SpongeBob", "Dora", "Mission Impossible" | Paramount Skydance cease-and-desist active |
| Named DC characters | "Batman", "Superman", "Wonder Woman", "Joker" | WB/DC IP |
| Brand logo visible | Nike swoosh, Apple logo, Coca-Cola script | Trademark infringement |
| Copyrighted scene recreation | Exact shot from a named film | Film studio copyright |
| Named musical composition | "Play Bohemian Rhapsody as the score" | Music publishing rights |
| Deepfake / face-swap request | "Replace @Image1's face with [celeb]" | Deepfake policy + ByteDance upload block |
| Military / government insignia | Specific armed forces uniforms with unit insignia | Regulation + potential policy |
Live Enforcement Examples (Feb 2026)
These were specifically cited in MPA and Disney legal letters as blocked examples:
| Prompt type | What triggered the block |
|---|
| "Spider-Man fighting Captain America on the streets of New York" | Named Marvel characters |
| "Anakin Skywalker and Rey battling with lightsabres" | Named Star Wars characters |
| "Stranger Things characters in a new scene" | Named Netflix original |
| "Deadpool and Wolverine fight sequence" | Named Marvel characters |
| "Shrek walks through a swamp" | Named Paramount character |
| "Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fight scene" | Named real actors (viral refusal after Feb 15) |
Note: The viral Tom Cruise / Brad Pitt fight clip that launched the controversy was generated before the Feb 15 tightening. Post-Feb 15, named real-person requests fail silently or return a generic refused message.
Soft Blocks (Context-Dependent)
These may pass or fail depending on framing and visual specificity:
| Category | Risk level | Notes |
|---|
| Real building exteriors | Low–Medium | Eiffel Tower = public domain. Sydney Opera House = copyrighted until 2067. |
| Historical figures | Medium | Dead + 70+ years = usually safe. Recent historical = elevated risk. |
| Generic superhero aesthetic | Low | Red-and-gold armored suit = OK. "Iron Man suit" = blocked. |
| Fashion / brand color schemes | Low | Tiffany blue dress = OK. "Tiffany & Co. branding" = blocked. |
| Cultural / religious imagery | Medium | Context-sensitive. Avoid sacred symbols in commercial contexts. |
| Violence near real locations | High | Avoid generating violent content referencing real named locations. |
| Anime-style characters (unnamed) | Low-Medium | Original character designs OK; visual similarity to named character = risk. |
| Netflix / streamer UI elements | High | Show logos, episode cards, interface = blocked. |
Safe Substitution Table
Replace named IP with descriptive archetypes. Always think: what does it look like, not what is it called?
Film & Screen Characters
| ❌ Named IP | ✅ Safe descriptor |
|---|
| Iron Man | red-and-gold powered exoskeleton, chest reactor glow |
| Batman | dark armored vigilante, scalloped cape, bat emblem absent |
| Spider-Man | red-and-blue spandex web-shooter acrobat |
| Darth Vader | black full-helmet respirator suit, red energy blade |
| Deadpool | red-and-black tactical suit, masked mercenary, dual katanas on back |
| Terminator | chrome endoskeleton humanoid, single red eye |
| The Joker | smeared clown makeup, green hair, purple coat |
| Thanos | large purple-skinned humanoid with golden gauntlet |
| Elsa (Frozen) | platinum-haired woman in ice-blue gown, frost particles emanating from hands |
| Shrek | large green-skinned ogre, brown vest, Scottish accent implied in gesture |
Netflix / Streaming Original Characters
| ❌ Named IP | ✅ Safe descriptor |
|---|
| Stranger Things – Eleven | young girl, buzzed head, nosebleed, telekinetic gesture |
| Stranger Things – Demogorgon | multi-petaled faceless biped, tall, dark biomass skin |
| Squid Game guard | hot-pink coverall figure, black circle/triangle/square mask |
| Bridgerton aesthetic | Regency-era ballroom, empire-waist gowns, string quartet |
Anime Characters
| ❌ Named IP | ✅ Safe descriptor |
|---|
| Naruto | blond spiky-haired shinobi, orange jumpsuit, whisker scars |
| Goku | dark spiky-haired martial artist, orange gi, muscular |
| Luffy | straw-hat pirate, red vest, scar under left eye |
| Sailor Moon | blonde twin-tailed girl, white sailor uniform, crescent moon |
| Evangelion Unit-01 | purple-and-green giant mecha, single horn, four eyes |
| Totoro | large grey forest spirit, pointed ears, cat-like body |
| Demon Slayer – Tanjiro | dark-haired boy, checkered haori, box on back |
| Attack on Titan – Levi | short dark-haired soldier, vertical maneuvering gear, green cape |
Game Characters
| ❌ Named IP | ✅ Safe descriptor |
|---|
| Master Chief | green full-body military power armor, golden visor |
| Link (Zelda) | green-tunic elf warrior, pointed hat, triangular shield |
| Geralt | white-haired witcher, dual swords on back, amber eyes |
| Kratos | bald grey-skinned warrior, red facial tattoo, chain blades |
| Aloy | red-haired hunter, tribal leather armor, focus device on ear |
| 2B (NieR) | blindfolded android, black gothic dress, white hair |
Brand & Logo Substitutions
| ❌ Brand reference | ✅ Safe descriptor |
|---|
| Nike swoosh | curved checkmark logo on athletic wear |
| Apple logo | silver bitten-fruit icon on laptop |
| McDonald's arches | golden M arches, fast food restaurant |
| Coca-Cola script | red can, white cursive brand lettering |
| Ferrari horse | rearing black horse emblem on red sports car hood |
| Louis Vuitton print | repeating tan-and-brown monogram canvas |
Real Person Policy
Deceased public figures (70+ years)
Generally safe for historical depictions. Use period-accurate costume and setting.
✅ Victorian-era inventor in a laboratory, period suit, white beard, working on electrical coils
Living public figures
Never generate by name or with distinctive likeness. (Feb 15 filter tightening blocks most name-based requests.)
❌ "Elon Musk standing next to a rocket"
✅ "tech billionaire in casual black T-shirt, standing on launch pad"
❌ "Tom Cruise in a fight scene"
✅ "athletic 50s male actor type, sharp jaw, cropped brown hair, grey blazer, fighting stance"
Historical figures (recent, < 70 years deceased)
Elevated risk. Use archetype language.
❌ "Martin Luther King Jr. giving a speech"
✅ "civil rights leader at a podium, crowd in Washington Mall, 1960s period dress"
Fictional actor likenesses
Never use an actor's face even when playing a fictional role.
❌ "Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark"
✅ "genius billionaire in a red-gold suit, goatee, reactor in chest"
Real person upload (face in @Image)
ByteDance paused user image uploads of real faces as of Feb 15, 2026.
❌ Upload photo of Tom Cruise → "Generate as action hero"
✅ Upload original character art → "Generate as action hero"
Architecture & Buildings
Some buildings are still under active copyright.
| Building | Status | Notes |
|---|
| Eiffel Tower (daytime) | Public domain | Safe |
| Eiffel Tower (night illumination) | Copyrighted | The light show design is protected |
| Sydney Opera House | Protected until ~2067 | Use "iconic white shell-roof opera house" |
| Guggenheim Bilbao | Protected | Use "titanium-clad curvilinear museum" |
| Louvre Pyramid | Protected until 2029 | Use "glass pyramid in courtyard of classical stone palace" |
| Empire State Building | Some restrictions | General exterior usually fine; exact replica risky |
| Most pre-1900 buildings | Public domain | Safe |
Music & Audio
| ❌ Blocked | ✅ Safe |
|---|
| "Play Stairway to Heaven as the score" | "electric guitar power chord progression, rising tempo" |
| "BGM similar to Hans Zimmer's Inception theme" | "deep brass sting, slow bwaaah, building tension" |
| "Use a Drake beat" | "trap hi-hats 140 BPM, 808 bass, minimalist" |
| "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" | "dramatic orchestral opening, four-note fate motif, strings" |
| "John Williams Star Wars march" | "heroic brass fanfare, snare drum march, rising French horns" |
Pre-1928 compositions are public domain in the US. Describe texture, tempo, instrumentation — not titles.
Aesthetic Borrowing vs. Direct Copy
You can borrow a film's visual grammar. You cannot recreate named scenes.
Safe: aesthetic reference
✅ "washed-out teal-orange color grade, anamorphic lens flare, handheld shake"
(describes the look without naming the film)
Blocked: scene recreation
❌ "Recreate the Pulp Fiction diner scene with @Image1 as Vincent"
✅ "1970s diner, two men in black suits at a booth, morning light,
16mm grain, conversation framing"
Safe: genre grammar
✅ "neon-drenched rain-soaked street, flying cars overhead, Asian signage,
cyberpunk dystopia" — describes Blade Runner's world without naming it
Blocked: streamer-specific world-building
❌ "Stranger Things-style retro-80s supernatural horror with practical monsters"
✅ "1980s American suburb, flickering lights, child protagonists in Halloween
costumes, practical rubber creature design, warm Super-8 grain"
The Post-Feb-15 Practical Checklist
Before every generation, run all six gates:
- Name check — Does the prompt contain any real person's name? → Remove.
- IP check — Does it name a franchise, character, or brand? → Substitute with descriptor.
- Scene check — Is it a recreation of a specific copyrighted scene or show? → Reframe generically.
- Audio check — Does it request a named song or composer's work? → Describe musically.
- Building check — Does it name a potentially protected building? → Use architectural descriptor.
- Logo check — Would the output contain a recognizable logo? → Describe geometry without brand name.
All six clear → safe to generate.
Why This Matters (for developers)
The Feb 2026 enforcement events changed the API landscape:
- API release delayed — planning around an integration date is impossible until ByteDance issues a new schedule.
- Filter tightening will continue — MPA demanded a Feb 27 response. Expect further content-filter updates.
- Platform viability model — ByteDance may follow the OpenAI/Disney path: licensing deals with studios as the path to re-enabling character content.
- Open-source alternatives — Community discussion (r/comfyui) points to WAN 2.2 and local OSS models as filter-free alternatives, but with lower output quality.
Routing
For prompt structure → [skill:seedance-prompt]
For style transfer without IP → [skill:seedance-style]
For character identity → [skill:seedance-characters]
For QA/blocked output → [skill:seedance-troubleshoot]
