Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, Square Enix demand OpenAI stop using their content to train AI

"The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an anti-piracy organization representing Japanese IP holders like Studio Ghibli and Bandai Namco, released a letter last week asking OpenAI to stop using its members' content to train Sora 2, as reported by . The letter states that "CODA considers that the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement," since the resulting AI model went on to spit out content with copyrighted characters."

"Sora 2 generated an avalanche of content containing Japanese IP after it launched on September 30th, prompting Japan's government to formally ask OpenAI to stop replicating Japanese artwork. This isn't the first time one of OpenAI's apps clearly pulled from Japanese media, either - the highlight of GPT-4o's launch back in March was a proliferation of "Ghibli-style" images. Even Sam Altman's own profile picture on X is currently a portrait in a style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli."

"Altman announced last month that OpenAI will be changing Sora's opt-out policy for IP holders, but CODA claims that the use of an opt-out policy to begin with may have violated Japanese copyright law, stating, "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.""

CODA, representing Japanese IP holders including Studio Ghibli and Bandai Namco, requested that OpenAI cease using members' content to train Sora 2. CODA considers that replication during machine learning may constitute copyright infringement because the AI produced content featuring copyrighted characters. Sora 2 produced a surge of Japanese-IP–style outputs after its September 30 launch, prompting a formal government request in Japan to halt replication of Japanese artwork. CODA argues that relying on an opt-out policy may breach Japanese copyright law, and asks OpenAI to stop using their content for machine learning without permission.

Read at The Verge