Japan tells OpenAI to stop spiriting away its copyrighted anime
Summary
OpenAI’s new Sora 2 video and image generator has been producing anime-style outputs that many say are indistinguishable from well-known Japanese anime and game characters. The Japanese government, concerned about potential copyright infringement and harm to a major cultural export, has formally asked OpenAI to stop actions that could violate copyright. Minister of State for Intellectual Property Strategy Minoru Kiuchi confirmed a request was sent via the Cabinet Office’s IP Strategy Promotion Secretariat.
Lawmakers and politicians, including Akihisa Shiozaki, reported testing Sora 2 and seeing high-quality images of Japanese characters. They noted an apparent disparity in how Sora handled Japanese IP versus some US-owned characters. OpenAI initially proposed an opt-out mechanism for rights-holders, then CEO Sam Altman pledged to give rightsholders more control after pushback. Some specific characters are now blocked, but many studio-style outputs (eg. Ghibli-like art) still appear, so Japan remains dissatisfied and may press further under its AI Promotion Act.
Key Points
- Japan lodged a formal request for OpenAI to stop producing content that may infringe on copyrighted anime and manga.
- Sora 2 rapidly produced high-quality anime-like images and videos that resembled works from Studio Ghibli and other franchises.
- Politicians noted a disparity in Sora 2’s handling of Japanese IP versus some US-owned characters, raising legal concerns.
- OpenAI initially proposed an opt-out for copyright holders, then Sam Altman promised stronger controls after criticism.
- Japan’s AI Promotion Act (Section 16) gives authorities power to act against inappropriate AI use harming citizens’ rights and interests.
- Some characters are now blocked from generation, but style-based outputs that mimic studios still appear, so issues persist.
Why should I read this?
If you care about anime, creators’ rights or how governments are starting to police generative AI, this is one to watch. Japan has just put OpenAI on notice — that could mean real rules, not just PR statements. It’s a short read and could save you future headaches if you work with AI-generated media.
Author’s take (punchy)
This is big. A major cultural exporter and national government has formally nudged — and yes, scolded — OpenAI. If you want to understand where AI regulation and IP enforcement are headed, the follow-up matters. Read the detail: it could set precedent for how other countries handle AI-created content.
Context and relevance
Generative AI is colliding with existing copyright regimes worldwide. Japan’s intervention highlights three trends: governments demanding more control for rights-holders, platforms scrambling to balance functionality with legal risk, and the persistent problem of ‘style’ versus direct character replication. For creators, studios and platform builders, the outcome will influence model access, filtering practices and potential legal liability across global markets.