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France’s Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers (SACD) is escalating its battle with TikTok, filing an emergency injunction in the Paris Judicial Court alleging the platform’s unauthorized use of its members’ creative works. The legal action underscores a growing tension between content creators and social media giants over fair compensation in the digital age.
The SACD, representing approximately 58,000 writers and composers for cinema, television, and theatre, announced the injunction on Thursday, following four years of unsuccessful negotiations with the Chinese-owned video-sharing service.
Years of Unresolved Disputes Lead to Legal Action
According to a statement released by the SACD, TikTok has been utilizing copyrighted material from its extensive repertoire without permission or adequate remuneration. “For many years, TikTok has been using copyrighted works from SACD’s repertoire without any authorization, never offering acceptable compensation to the authors of these works, and has failed to remove the works as requested by us,” a representative stated.
The dispute centers around the widespread presence of snippets from popular French films and television series on the platform, including franchises like Brice de Nice, Asterix and Obelix, and Kaamelott. These titles represent just a fraction of the millions of works registered with the SACD.
SACD: A History of Protecting Creator Rights
Founded in 1829, the SACD has a long-standing commitment to ensuring its members receive fair payment for their work, particularly as the media landscape evolves. The organization has been proactive in adapting to the digital age, notably becoming the first European body to secure a residuals deal with Netflix in 2014. It has also engaged in negotiations with Amazon and AppleTV+ regarding local investment obligations.
The SACD’s statement also highlighted a lack of transparency from TikTok concerning its financial data, a critical point in determining appropriate royalty payments. The organization asserts that, as an online content-sharing service, TikTok is subject to the provisions of the French Intellectual Property Code (CPI) and is therefore in violation of copyright law without a contractual agreement with the SACD for registered works.
Seeking Compensation and Financial Transparency
The SACD is seeking both compensation for the harm inflicted upon its members due to the unauthorized use of their work and full disclosure of TikTok’s revenue streams. “SACD is seeking compensation for the harm suffered by the authors of works used or displayed on the platform, as well as disclosure of TikTok’s revenue. Copyright royalties must be determined based on appropriate and reliable financial data,” the organization explained.
A hearing in the case is scheduled for March 2026.
As of Thursday, Deadline reported reaching out to TikTok for comment on the legal action and whether the platform intends to remove the contested material. A response is currently pending.
This legal challenge signals a potential turning point in the ongoing debate over copyright enforcement on social media platforms and could set a precedent for similar actions by other rights organizations globally.
