World
AI Analysis
Lights, camera, algorithm: China’s AI microdramas go viral - but spark copyright fears
AI
AI Legal Analyst
Summary
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media drew backlash after unveiling two AI-generated actors whose appearances were widely perceived to resemble Chinese film star Zhai Zilu and actresses Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng. The two actors are completely generated using artificial intelligence. (Image: Weibo/Youhug Media) In March, a Beijing court ruled in favour of an unnamed actress whose image rights were violated after two companies had used generative AI to create a character resembling her in a microdrama. Generative AI models are trained on vast datasets scraped from the internet, often without clear consent from individuals whose faces, voices or performances are included. “These large models rely on massive amounts of visual data,” said Niu Cong, project coordinator at Versatile Media, a Hangzhou-based virtual production company that produces AI-generated microdramas. “But whether all of that data - especially human faces - has been properly authorised is still very questionable,” she said. A still from an AI-generated microdrama produced by Hangzhou-based Versatile Media. (Image: Douyin/深帧幻剧) The team completed the entire series in 4 to 5 days, she said. “We worked intensively to finish it before the Spring Festival and launched it online on Douyin and Hongguo.” With AI evolving so quickly, the company has also been developing its own AI production tool called MOKE. “It’s a very important production tool for us,” Niu said. “It started out as something to assist our virtual production system for applications and shooting, but now it can complete a full-process content creation from a single platform - from script to visuals to video output,” she added. “It’s very fast.
## Summary
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media drew backlash after unveiling two AI-generated actors whose appearances were widely perceived to resemble Chinese film star Zhai Zilu and actresses Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng. The two actors are completely generated using artificial intelligence. (Image: Weibo/Youhug Media) In March, a Beijing court ruled in favour of an unnamed actress whose image rights were violated after two companies had used generative AI to create a character resembling her in a microdrama. Generative AI models are trained on vast datasets scraped from the internet, often without clear consent from individuals whose faces, voices or performances are included. “These large models rely on massive amounts of visual data,” said Niu Cong, project coordinator at Versatile Media, a Hangzhou-based virtual production company that produces AI-generated microdramas. “But whether all of that data - especially human faces - has been properly authorised is still very questionable,” she said. A still from an AI-generated microdrama produced by Hangzhou-based Versatile Media. (Image: Douyin/深帧幻剧) The team completed the entire series in 4 to 5 days, she said. “We worked intensively to finish it before the Spring Festival and launched it online on Douyin and Hongguo.” With AI evolving so quickly, the company has also been developing its own AI production tool called MOKE. “It’s a very important production tool for us,” Niu said. “It started out as something to assist our virtual production system for applications and shooting, but now it can complete a full-process content creation from a single platform - from script to visuals to video output,” she added. “It’s very fast.
## Article Content
Advertisement
East Asia
Lights, camera, algorithm: China’s AI microdramas go viral - but spark copyright fears
While massively popular among young Chinese social media users, AI microdramas are fuelling concerns that the technology is eroding copyright - and potentially livelihoods.
A still from the first episode of AI-generated microdrama Master of Fengshui, produced by Jiangxi-based company SocialTok. (Image: Douyin/SocialTok Playlet)
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Lakeisha Leo
Lakeisha Leo
09 Apr 2026 11:11AM
(Updated: 09 Apr 2026 11:31AM)
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SINGAPORE: Up high on a massive snowy mountain, a Chinese Fengshui master battles a Japanese Shinto priest, as dark storm clouds gather.
Armed with a luopan, a traditional Chinese compass, he fends off giant snakes conjured by his opponent - but is ultimately overpowered and thrown off.
The dramatic showdown was not the work of actors, stunt crews or visual effects teams - instead, it was
created using generative artificial intelligence (AI)
tools by SocialTok, a Chinese digital marketing and AI company headquartered in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
The two-and-a-half minute video is the first episode of a 61-part microdrama series titled Master of Feng Shui - and amassed 100 million views within 12 hours of its debut on Mar 18, according to local media reports.
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It has since garnered more than 1.2 million likes on the short-video platform Douyin.
AI-generated microdramas are
taking China by storm
. From scheming imperial palace dogs to anthropomorphic fruits looking for romance, these surreal, algorithm-driven productions have been fuelling a booming domestic industry - now valued at around 100 billion yuan (US$14.5 billion) - nearly double the country’s box office revenue, according to industry observers.
A still of an AI-generated microdrama featuring dogs posted on Instagram. (Image: Instagram/jjgbadago)
Thousands of such productions have been released monthly since the start of this year - but behind their explosive growth lies a deepening concern among actors and creatives: that the same technology driving efficiency and scale is also eroding their rights - and, potentially, their livelihoods.
COPYRIGHT CONCERNS AND “DIGITAL DOUBLES”
Controversy has intensified in recent weeks over AI-generated performers bearing striking similarities to real-life actors.
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media drew backlash after unveiling two AI-generated actors whose appearances were widely perceived to resemble Chinese film star Zhai Zilu and actresses Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng.
The incident reignited debate over whether generative AI systems are effectively “replicating” human performers without consent.
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media unveiled two actors - Lin Xiyan (left) and Qin Lingyue (right) - on Mar 18, 2026. The two actors are completely generated using artificial intelligence. (Image: Weibo/Youhug Media)
In March, a Beijing court ruled in favour of an unnamed actress whose image rights were violated after two companies had used generative AI to create a character resembling her in a microdrama.
The issue came to light when the actress discovered her likeness had been superimposed onto a character, according to Chinese media reports.
Citing China’s Civil Code, Judge Zhao Qi said that even if an AI-generated face differed slightly from the original, it still constitutes infringement if the person is recognisable by the public.
“The segments bore a strong resemblance to the actress and public comments identified the character as her,” Zhao said, adding that the streaming platform would also be held liable for not reviewing the content and “failing its duty to prevent infringement”.
Related:
China’s courts grapple with copyright issues in the age of AI-generated art
China’s micro-drama boom takes viewers by storm both at home and abroad
Chinese legal experts said a key criterion in determining infringement is the “identifiability”.
If the public is able to recognise an AI-generated image as a specific actor, it may constitute infringement - whether it was the result of “deliberate imitation” or “technical coincidence”, said Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm.
If circumstances were serious, they could even be considered a crime, Li said.
Speaking to the state-owned Global Times ne
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
- Citing China’s Civil Code, Judge Zhao Qi said that even if an AI-generated face differed slightly from the original, it still constitutes infringement if the person is recognisable by the public. “The segments bore a strong resemblance to the actress and public comments identified the character as her,” Zhao said, adding that the streaming platform would also be held liable for not reviewing the content and “failing its duty to prevent infringement”.
- Related: Commentary: The human advantage in the age of AI In a statement released on Apr 2 - the Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations condemned the growing misuse of AI technology , including the unauthorised use of actors' images and audio for AI model training.
- A still from an AI-generated microdrama produced by Hangzhou-based Versatile Media. (Image: Douyin/深帧幻剧) The team completed the entire series in 4 to 5 days, she said. “We worked intensively to finish it before the Spring Festival and launched it online on Douyin and Hongguo.” With AI evolving so quickly, the company has also been developing its own AI production tool called MOKE. “It’s a very important production tool for us,” Niu said. “It started out as something to assist our virtual production system for applications and shooting, but now it can complete a full-process content creation from a single platform - from script to visuals to video output,” she added. “It’s very fast.
### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less It has since garnered more than 1.2 million likes on the short-video platform Douyin.
- A still of an AI-generated microdrama featuring dogs posted on Instagram. (Image: Instagram/jjgbadago) Thousands of such productions have been released monthly since the start of this year - but behind their explosive growth lies a deepening concern among actors and creatives: that the same technology driving efficiency and scale is also eroding their rights - and, potentially, their livelihoods.
- COPYRIGHT CONCERNS AND “DIGITAL DOUBLES” Controversy has intensified in recent weeks over AI-generated performers bearing striking similarities to real-life actors.
### Implications
- If the public is able to recognise an AI-generated image as a specific actor, it may constitute infringement - whether it was the result of “deliberate imitation” or “technical coincidence”, said Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm.
- If circumstances were serious, they could even be considered a crime, Li said.
- According to a global report released by UNESCO on Feb 18, creative workers - from actors to writers - risk having their work used to train AI systems without payment or credit. “The shift toward digital production and consumption has created new opportunities but also intensified economic uncertainty,” UNESCO said, adding that “disruptions are occurring at a pace that outstrips current policy responses, exacerbating inequalities and threatening the livelihoods of millions of cultural workers”. “Creators are experiencing heightened exposure to intellectual property violations and diminishing returns on their work as AI-generated outputs enter the marketplace.
- During a recent livestream, actor Yang Xuwen said the impact of AI was “extremely huge”, noting that many dramas can now be completed using the technology.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers generated, production, china topics. Notable strengths include discussion of generated. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1943.
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media drew backlash after unveiling two AI-generated actors whose appearances were widely perceived to resemble Chinese film star Zhai Zilu and actresses Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng. The two actors are completely generated using artificial intelligence. (Image: Weibo/Youhug Media) In March, a Beijing court ruled in favour of an unnamed actress whose image rights were violated after two companies had used generative AI to create a character resembling her in a microdrama. Generative AI models are trained on vast datasets scraped from the internet, often without clear consent from individuals whose faces, voices or performances are included. “These large models rely on massive amounts of visual data,” said Niu Cong, project coordinator at Versatile Media, a Hangzhou-based virtual production company that produces AI-generated microdramas. “But whether all of that data - especially human faces - has been properly authorised is still very questionable,” she said. A still from an AI-generated microdrama produced by Hangzhou-based Versatile Media. (Image: Douyin/深帧幻剧) The team completed the entire series in 4 to 5 days, she said. “We worked intensively to finish it before the Spring Festival and launched it online on Douyin and Hongguo.” With AI evolving so quickly, the company has also been developing its own AI production tool called MOKE. “It’s a very important production tool for us,” Niu said. “It started out as something to assist our virtual production system for applications and shooting, but now it can complete a full-process content creation from a single platform - from script to visuals to video output,” she added. “It’s very fast.
## Article Content
Advertisement
East Asia
Lights, camera, algorithm: China’s AI microdramas go viral - but spark copyright fears
While massively popular among young Chinese social media users, AI microdramas are fuelling concerns that the technology is eroding copyright - and potentially livelihoods.
A still from the first episode of AI-generated microdrama Master of Fengshui, produced by Jiangxi-based company SocialTok. (Image: Douyin/SocialTok Playlet)
New: You can now listen to articles.
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
Lakeisha Leo
Lakeisha Leo
09 Apr 2026 11:11AM
(Updated: 09 Apr 2026 11:31AM)
Bookmark
Bookmark
Share
Telegram
Set CNA as your preferred source on Google
Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.
Read a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST
Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
SINGAPORE: Up high on a massive snowy mountain, a Chinese Fengshui master battles a Japanese Shinto priest, as dark storm clouds gather.
Armed with a luopan, a traditional Chinese compass, he fends off giant snakes conjured by his opponent - but is ultimately overpowered and thrown off.
The dramatic showdown was not the work of actors, stunt crews or visual effects teams - instead, it was
created using generative artificial intelligence (AI)
tools by SocialTok, a Chinese digital marketing and AI company headquartered in Nanchang, Jiangxi.
The two-and-a-half minute video is the first episode of a 61-part microdrama series titled Master of Feng Shui - and amassed 100 million views within 12 hours of its debut on Mar 18, according to local media reports.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
It has since garnered more than 1.2 million likes on the short-video platform Douyin.
AI-generated microdramas are
taking China by storm
. From scheming imperial palace dogs to anthropomorphic fruits looking for romance, these surreal, algorithm-driven productions have been fuelling a booming domestic industry - now valued at around 100 billion yuan (US$14.5 billion) - nearly double the country’s box office revenue, according to industry observers.
A still of an AI-generated microdrama featuring dogs posted on Instagram. (Image: Instagram/jjgbadago)
Thousands of such productions have been released monthly since the start of this year - but behind their explosive growth lies a deepening concern among actors and creatives: that the same technology driving efficiency and scale is also eroding their rights - and, potentially, their livelihoods.
COPYRIGHT CONCERNS AND “DIGITAL DOUBLES”
Controversy has intensified in recent weeks over AI-generated performers bearing striking similarities to real-life actors.
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media drew backlash after unveiling two AI-generated actors whose appearances were widely perceived to resemble Chinese film star Zhai Zilu and actresses Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Zifeng.
The incident reignited debate over whether generative AI systems are effectively “replicating” human performers without consent.
Shanghai-based production company Youhug Media unveiled two actors - Lin Xiyan (left) and Qin Lingyue (right) - on Mar 18, 2026. The two actors are completely generated using artificial intelligence. (Image: Weibo/Youhug Media)
In March, a Beijing court ruled in favour of an unnamed actress whose image rights were violated after two companies had used generative AI to create a character resembling her in a microdrama.
The issue came to light when the actress discovered her likeness had been superimposed onto a character, according to Chinese media reports.
Citing China’s Civil Code, Judge Zhao Qi said that even if an AI-generated face differed slightly from the original, it still constitutes infringement if the person is recognisable by the public.
“The segments bore a strong resemblance to the actress and public comments identified the character as her,” Zhao said, adding that the streaming platform would also be held liable for not reviewing the content and “failing its duty to prevent infringement”.
Related:
China’s courts grapple with copyright issues in the age of AI-generated art
China’s micro-drama boom takes viewers by storm both at home and abroad
Chinese legal experts said a key criterion in determining infringement is the “identifiability”.
If the public is able to recognise an AI-generated image as a specific actor, it may constitute infringement - whether it was the result of “deliberate imitation” or “technical coincidence”, said Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm.
If circumstances were serious, they could even be considered a crime, Li said.
Speaking to the state-owned Global Times ne
---
## Expert Analysis
### Merits
- Citing China’s Civil Code, Judge Zhao Qi said that even if an AI-generated face differed slightly from the original, it still constitutes infringement if the person is recognisable by the public. “The segments bore a strong resemblance to the actress and public comments identified the character as her,” Zhao said, adding that the streaming platform would also be held liable for not reviewing the content and “failing its duty to prevent infringement”.
- Related: Commentary: The human advantage in the age of AI In a statement released on Apr 2 - the Actors Committee of the China Federation of Radio and Television Associations condemned the growing misuse of AI technology , including the unauthorised use of actors' images and audio for AI model training.
- A still from an AI-generated microdrama produced by Hangzhou-based Versatile Media. (Image: Douyin/深帧幻剧) The team completed the entire series in 4 to 5 days, she said. “We worked intensively to finish it before the Spring Festival and launched it online on Douyin and Hongguo.” With AI evolving so quickly, the company has also been developing its own AI production tool called MOKE. “It’s a very important production tool for us,” Niu said. “It started out as something to assist our virtual production system for applications and shooting, but now it can complete a full-process content creation from a single platform - from script to visuals to video output,” she added. “It’s very fast.
### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less It has since garnered more than 1.2 million likes on the short-video platform Douyin.
- A still of an AI-generated microdrama featuring dogs posted on Instagram. (Image: Instagram/jjgbadago) Thousands of such productions have been released monthly since the start of this year - but behind their explosive growth lies a deepening concern among actors and creatives: that the same technology driving efficiency and scale is also eroding their rights - and, potentially, their livelihoods.
- COPYRIGHT CONCERNS AND “DIGITAL DOUBLES” Controversy has intensified in recent weeks over AI-generated performers bearing striking similarities to real-life actors.
### Implications
- If the public is able to recognise an AI-generated image as a specific actor, it may constitute infringement - whether it was the result of “deliberate imitation” or “technical coincidence”, said Li Zhenwu, a lawyer at Shanghai Lizhen Law Firm.
- If circumstances were serious, they could even be considered a crime, Li said.
- According to a global report released by UNESCO on Feb 18, creative workers - from actors to writers - risk having their work used to train AI systems without payment or credit. “The shift toward digital production and consumption has created new opportunities but also intensified economic uncertainty,” UNESCO said, adding that “disruptions are occurring at a pace that outstrips current policy responses, exacerbating inequalities and threatening the livelihoods of millions of cultural workers”. “Creators are experiencing heightened exposure to intellectual property violations and diminishing returns on their work as AI-generated outputs enter the marketplace.
- During a recent livestream, actor Yang Xuwen said the impact of AI was “extremely huge”, noting that many dramas can now be completed using the technology.
### Expert Commentary
This article covers generated, production, china topics. Notable strengths include discussion of generated. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1943.
generated
production
china
generative
actors
chinese
media
content
