Japanese Government Makes Formal Request For OpenAI To Stop Copyright Infringement

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The Japanese government has officially asked OpenAI to ensure its new video tool, Sora 2, doesn’t violate Japanese copyrights and other intellectual property rights.

During a recent press conference, Japanese Minister Minoru Kiuchi highlighted the importance of anime and manga as key parts of Japan’s cultural identity. He and Digital Minister Masaaki Taira called on OpenAI to protect Japanese copyrights and prevent its AI technology from being used inappropriately. Taira also indicated that Japan might use the AI Promotion Act—a law designed to encourage AI development while also safeguarding against issues like copyright infringement—if OpenAI doesn’t cooperate voluntarily.

Sora 2, a new AI tool released on October 1st, can create 20-second HD videos with sound. People quickly started using it to make videos featuring characters from popular franchises like One Piece, Demon Slayer, Pokemon, and Mario—even though these characters are protected by copyright. The large number of these videos being shared online has worried officials and creators in Japan, leading the government to formally ask for action regarding copyright protection.

Japan’s new AI law, which fully took effect in September 2025, establishes guidelines for using AI responsibly, including how to handle copyright issues. Although the law doesn’t include specific fines, it encourages companies to follow government recommendations. Lawmakers like Akihisa Shiozaki have pointed to AI models like Sora 2 as a chance for Japan to take a leading role in creating international rules for AI and intellectual property. This is particularly relevant for Japan, given its strong global impact through entertainment like anime, video games, and music.

In October, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed worries about Sora 2 in a blog post. He called videos created with copyrighted characters “interactive fan fiction” and pledged to give copyright owners more control, including the option to prevent the use of their characters. Altman also highlighted Japan’s important role in creative content and suggested future improvements to how Sora generates videos. Despite this, OpenAI hasn’t yet formally responded to a request from the Japanese government.

The debate has also caught the attention of major copyright owners. Nintendo publicly stated they haven’t tried to influence laws against AI, but will still legally defend their intellectual property if necessary. Companies like Disney and Universal have already sued AI businesses like Midjourney and Character.AI for using their characters without permission. Notably, OpenAI has already changed its stance on one point: they initially said copyright holders would have to actively request their work *not* be used by AI, but have since moved away from that position.

Lawyers specializing in copyright law are concerned that AI-created videos using well-known people or characters could lead to many copyright infringement cases. Companies developing this technology, such as OpenAI, might soon be sued if these issues aren’t addressed.

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2025-10-14 22:44