Japanese publishers demand OpenAI’s Sora 2 stops using their copyrighted creative works without permission

A number of Japanese publishers, including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and Kadokawa have publicly called for OpenAI to stop using their creative works to train its genAI tool, Sora 2.

CODA, the Content Overseas Distribution Association – a Japanese organization founded at the request of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to “promote the overseas development of Japanese content and take anti-piracy measures” – has published an open letter to OpenAI noting a “large portion of content” produced by Sora 2 “closely resembles Japanese content or images.”

“CODA has confirmed that a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images,” the organization said (thanks, Eurogamer). “CODA has determined that this is the result of using Japanese content as machine learning data. In cases, as with Sora 2, where specific copyrighted works are reproduced or similarly generated as outputs, CODA considers that the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement.

“Furthermore, according to media reports, it has been stated that Sora 2 responds through an opt-out system based on requests from copyright holders. However, 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.”

Consequently, CODA is asking that its members’ content is “not used for machine learning without their permission,” and that OpenAI “responds sincerely to claims and inquiries from CODA member companies regarding copyright infringement related to Sora 2’s outputs.”

Last month, Nintendo issued a statement refuting claims it has been lobbying the Japanese government about protecting its intellectual property against generative AI. Conversely, Subnautica 2 and PUBG publisher Krafton is positioning itself as an “AI-first company.”

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently said the company’s current use of AI is chiefly for security and Xbox Live moderation, and that there is no mandate for it to be used in the creative process.