A Japanese trade association representing several major publishers, including Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and more major names, has called on OpenAI to stop using copyrighted material in its artificial intelligence models without obtaining prior permission.
The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) sent a formal letter to OpenAI, asking the company to refrain from using its members’ intellectual property in machine learning processes. The group’s concerns have intensified after a surge in AI-generated artwork replicating Studio Ghibli’s signature animation style, which has spread widely across social media platforms.
Studio Ghibli, known for acclaimed films such as Spirited Away and Grave of the Fireflies, has seen its artistic identity repeatedly mimicked by AI users. Since OpenAI introduced its built-in image generator in March, social media has been flooded with photos and portraits reimagined in “Ghibli style.” Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman briefly changed his profile picture on X to an AI-generated version inspired by the studio’s art.
CODA’s statement follows the release of OpenAI’s Sora app, which allows users to generate video content through AI. The organization emphasized that Japan’s copyright laws require prior authorization before any use of protected material, leaving no provision for post-use approval.
CODA said in its statement:
Under Japan’s copyright system, prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works, and there is no system allowing one to avoid liability for infringement through subsequent objections.
The association argues that reproducing or generating similar works during AI model training could be interpreted as copyright infringement in Japan, regardless of whether the output directly replicates the original.
In contrast, U.S. copyright law remains less defined when it comes to AI training. While the law has not been updated since 1976, recent cases are starting to set precedents. In one example, U.S. federal judge William Alsup ruled that Anthropic did not break copyright law by training its AI system on copyrighted books, though the company was fined for pirating the data used in that process.
OpenAI’s approach, often described as “asking for forgiveness rather than permission”, has led to growing criticism. The strategy has also sparked controversy over deepfakes created with its tools, including images and videos featuring copyrighted characters and deceased public figures. Both Nintendo and the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have raised objections over such misuse on platforms linked to OpenAI’s Sora app.
While Studio Ghibli’s leadership has not yet commented on CODA’s action, co-founder Hayao Miyazaki has long expressed his disapproval of AI-generated art. In 2016, when shown a computer-generated 3D animation created by AI developers, he described it as “utterly disgusting” and “an insult to life itself.”
Get the latest tech news, telecom insights, and product launches wherever you prefer.
Add ProPakistani to Preferred Sources and see more of our stories in Google Search and Top Stories.
