The Japanese government has formally requested that OpenAI avoid infringing on Japanese intellectual property, particularly in response to its video-generating tool, Sora 2.
At a Cabinet Office press conference, Minister of State for IP and AI Strategy Minoru Kiuchi emphasized that anime and manga are “irreplaceable treasures” representing Japan’s cultural pride (via IGN). The government urged OpenAI to respect Japanese copyrights and avoid misuse of its technology. Digital Minister Masaaki Taira echoed this sentiment, suggesting that if OpenAI doesn’t voluntarily comply, Japan could invoke provisions under the AI Promotion Act–legislation that promotes AI development while also addressing risks such as copyright violations.
Launched on October 1, Sora 2 can create 20-second HD videos with sound, and users quickly began using it to generate content featuring copyrighted characters from popular anime and game franchises like One Piece, Demon Slayer, Pokemon, and Mario. The widespread sharing of these videos on social media has alarmed Japanese authorities and creatives, prompting the government’s Cabinet Office to issue the official request via its Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters.
