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Hongguo Short Drama Sets New Rules for AI Characters, Targets 'Copy-Paste' Faces

Hongguo Short Drama, a major player in the AI-generated short drama space, has laid down the law on character creation. On July 24, the company released an announcement titled "Announcement on Standardizing AI Drama Character Creation," setting clear rules to tackle two big headaches: the plague of same-looking AI faces and the risk of copyright infringement.

So what exactly are the new rules? For starters, characters in a single drama need to be easily distinguishable and highly recognizable. No more reusing the same face across different dramas or roles—that's a surefire way to bore the audience. The company wants to put an end to visual fatigue, which has been a growing complaint among viewers.

On the copyright front, Hongguo has drawn three red lines. First, creators can't use someone else's original characters, costumes, or prop designs without permission. Second, it's strictly forbidden to plagiarize copyrighted photographs or artworks. And third, if you want to use any copyrighted content, you need to get the green light beforehand. These measures are meant to protect intellectual property and encourage originality.

But Hongguo isn't just setting rules and walking away. The platform is launching a special governance campaign to crack down on character reuse, homogenization, and material violations. They're also encouraging creators to self-examine and make corrections. This is a clear signal that the AI short drama industry is moving toward more standardized and refined operations.

Why does this matter? AI-generated short dramas have exploded in popularity, but with that growth came some ugly side effects. Many productions relied on a handful of generic AI character models, leading to a sea of same-looking faces that left viewers feeling like they were watching the same show over and over. Copyright issues also popped up, with some creators using unauthorized materials. Hongguo's move is a step toward cleaning up the industry and making AI dramas more enjoyable and ethical.

Key Points

  • Character Differentiation: Main characters must be clearly distinguishable and highly recognizable; reusing similar characters across dramas is banned.
  • Copyright Compliance: Three red lines: no unauthorized use of original characters, costumes, or props; no plagiarism of copyrighted photos or art; prior authorization required for copyrighted content.
  • Governance Campaign: A special campaign will target character reuse, homogenization, and material violations, with self-correction encouraged.
  • Industry Impact: The move signals a shift toward more standardized and refined operations in the AI short drama industry.