The standoff is now official. After years of unproductive discussions with TikTok, the SACD (Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) has taken the step to bring the matter before the courts.

The entity, which advocates for the rights of authors and creators in France, has initiated legal action against TikTok, though the precise details of the case have not yet been disclosed to the public.

Four Years of Negotiations with TikTok

According to a press release dated November 13, the SACD has been attempting to negotiate an agreement with TikTok for nearly four years regarding the usage of works from its catalog.

Various forms of content, including films, TV shows, famous dialogues, sketches, and cartoons, are shared on the social network in the form of clips, parodies, or creative reuse, all without prior authorization, as per the organization.

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With no significant progress, the authors’ society has proceeded with a summary summons before the Paris Judicial Court.

Action Focused on the Unauthorized Use of Protected Works

In its statement, the SACD claims that TikTok has been broadcasting protected works for years without any contractual agreement allowing for their use.

Observations by the ALPA (Association for the Fight Against Audiovisual Piracy) have identified numerous pieces of content, including clips from OSS 117, Brice de Nice, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, The Chorus, as well as Kaamelott, Little Brown Bear, and shows by Caroline Vigneaux and Les Bodin’s.

For the SACD, TikTok thus finds itself in a position of infringement under the Intellectual Property Code. The organization is seeking compensation for the damages suffered by the authors and creators, whose works are extensively used on the platform.

It argues that it has never received from the platform either the removal of reported content or an offer of compensation considered adequate. The case is also gaining a European dimension, as the lawsuit targets TikTok Technology Limited, based in Ireland, with a hearing scheduled for March 18.

Financial Transparency at the Heart of the Dispute

Beyond the issue of permissions, the SACD also accuses TikTok of a lack of transparency. The organization demands that the platform disclose its revenue figures so as to determine a fair compensation in accordance with copyright practices.

This initiative also highlights a fundamental debate: should major content-sharing platforms, which play a central role in cultural dissemination, adjust their models to more effectively incorporate compensation for rights holders? TikTok, contacted by several media outlets, has not yet made any public response.

With nearly 60,000 members and covering a wide range of audiovisual and stage works, this legal action could influence future discussions between platforms and entities like the SACD…