By OpenAI recently introduced its Sora 2 video production application, and although it has garnered popularity among users—many of whom utilize it to produce videos featuring their beloved anime characters—the Japanese government holds a contrasting viewpoint. Minoru Kiuchi, Japan’s state minister for intellectual property and AI strategy, has declared a formal request from the government for the tech firm to prohibit the creation of videos that violate copyright laws concerning Japanese materials (via IGN).
Kiuchi characterizes manga and anime as “priceless treasures” of Japanese culture and significant exports to the global market. Concurrently, Japanese digital minister Masaaki Taira has urged OpenAI to willingly adhere to their request to cease copyright violations.
Regarding the introduction of Sora 2, Japanese parliament member Akihisa Shiozaki stated on his social media that “Japan has a duty to lead in establishing regulations (pertaining to AI and copyright violations), especially because we are a nation that has enchanted the world with the creative force of anime, games, and music.”
OpenAI had previously informed the media that it reached out to talent agencies and film studios ahead of Sora 2’s launch, providing them with the option to “opt out” from permitting the company’s LLMs to train on their copyrighted content (via Reuters), but it remains uncertain whether any Japanese creators were approached.
As generative AI applications continue to rise in prominence, I find it reassuring that the Japanese government has joined the increasing chorus of influential voices emphasizing the significance of addressing copyright violations and creative plagiarism that appears to be inherent to their functionality.
Japanese creators, especially mangaka, are renowned for dedicating themselves to their art, frequently sacrificing their personal lives and well-being to refine their skill and keep up with the demanding release schedules of numerous manga. Such artistic sacrifices deserve recognition by respecting the labor that goes into creating at such a high standard with a human touch.
Whether or how OpenAI re