OpenAI’s recently launched Sora 2 video generation model, which debuted on September 30, has reportedly sparked significant concern from the Japanese government due to accusations of copyright infringement. Japan has formally requested the company to immediately cease any actions that infringe upon its valuable intellectual property (IP).
Japan Expresses Strong Displeasure Over Sora’s AI-Generated Videos
The artificial intelligence model powers OpenAI’s new Sora app for iOS, enabling users to create and share AI-generated videos freely. However, numerous users have observed that the model frequently produces videos featuring striking resemblances to iconic Japanese copyrighted characters, such as Super Mario, Pikachu, and Goku.
According to reports from the Japanese outlet IT Media News, Minoru Kiuchi, Japan’s Minister of State for IP and AI Strategy, publicly announced at a Cabinet Office press conference that a formal online request had been sent to OpenAI. This request explicitly urged the company to “not to engage in any actions that could constitute copyright infringement.”
Minister Kiuchi emphasized the cultural importance of these creations, stating, “Anime and manga are irreplaceable treasures that we can be proud of around the world.”
The capabilities of Sora 2 have allowed users to create surprisingly believable videos featuring classic anime characters. For instance, one user shared a video where Sora 2 generated anime-style content, noting, “I tested the AI model Sora 2 on classic anime, the result is hardly believable… I can already see the hundreds of fanmades and parodies that are going to come out! Sora 2 is definitely a new step in AI anime.”
Adding to the government’s stance, Akihisa Shiozaki, Deputy Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and a member of the House of Representatives, publicly called for the Japanese government to invoke Article 16 of the AI Promotion Act. This act, which became operational on September 1, grants the government “the legal authority to request investigations and reports from relevant businesses and to provide necessary guidance and advice” in instances of AI-driven copyright infringement.
Another popular example of Sora’s output that raised eyebrows was a video playfully dubbed “Saving Private Pikachu,” showcasing the beloved Pokémon character in a cinematic setting. One user commented, “My favorite new trend in the Sora app is putting Pikachu in every movie. This is ‘Saving Private Pikachu’.”
Concerns surrounding copyright infringement with Sora 2 generations have been present since its launch. In response to these issues, OpenAI recently updated its policy for the Sora app. Previously, rightsholders had to actively “opt out” if they didn’t want their characters generated by Sora. The new policy reverses this, now operating on an “opt-in” basis, granting rightsholders more precise control over how their characters are utilized and depicted by the AI.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged Japan’s unique creative landscape in a post explaining the policy change. He remarked, “We’d like to acknowledge the remarkable creative output of Japan–we are struck by how deep the connection between users and Japanese content is!”