Japanese publishers, including the renowned animation studio Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded that OpenAI cease using their copyrighted works to train its AI models, particularly the recently launched video-generation tool, Sora 2. This request was submitted by Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), which represents major companies such as Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Kadokawa, and Shueisha. They argue that OpenAI's use of their content without permission constitutes copyright infringement under Japanese law[1][3][5][6].
The controversy intensified after the release of OpenAI's So...
The controversy intensified after the release of OpenAI's Sora 2 app in late October 2025, which combines AI video generation with a TikTok-like social platform allowing users to create and share short videos. Sora 2 quickly became notorious for enabling users to generate videos featuring copyrighted characters and styles from famous Japanese anime, manga, and video games. This includes creations closely resembling works from Studio Ghibli, Nintendo, and other iconic IP holders, sparking widespread concern over the unregulated use of creative content in AI training datasets[3][6].
Earlier in 2025, OpenAI had introduced an image-generation f...
Earlier in 2025, OpenAI had introduced an image-generation feature in ChatGPT that allowed users to generate images mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinct animation style, which became a viral trend. Even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman participated by changing his profile picture to a "Ghiblified" self-portrait. However, despite this popularity, Studio Ghibli and its peers have made clear that this use of their styles and copyrighted imagery is unauthorized and harmful to their intellectual property rights[1][2][8].
CODA’s formal letter to OpenAI demands an immediate halt to...
CODA’s formal letter to OpenAI demands an immediate halt to the use of their copyrighted works for AI training without prior consent. While OpenAI has implemented an opt-out system and made adjustments to Sora 2 to block some unauthorized content generation, CODA insists this is insufficient and incompatible with Japanese copyright laws, which require explicit permission before copyrighted material can be used in this way. They have urged OpenAI to respond sincerely to their claims and inquiries regarding potential copyright violations linked to Sora 2’s outputs[3][5][6].
The dispute with OpenAI is part of a broader global backlash...
The dispute with OpenAI is part of a broader global backlash against generative AI companies accused of scraping copyrighted content without authorization. Similar legal challenges have been made by publishers and creators in the United States and Europe. In Japan, the issue is especially sensitive given the cultural importance and economic value of anime, manga, and video game industries. CODA’s action underscores a growing demand for clearer regulation and respect for creators’ rights in the age of AI-generated media[3][6][8].
OpenAI, which launched Sora 2 on September 30, 2025, has fac...
OpenAI, which launched Sora 2 on September 30, 2025, has faced increasing scrutiny not only over copyright but also ethical concerns related to its AI products. The company has stated its commitment to building safe and beneficial AI technologies but now faces mounting pressure to reconcile its business model with the intellectual property rights of content creators worldwide[3].
In summary, the coalition of Japanese publishers led by Stud...
In summary, the coalition of Japanese publishers led by Studio Ghibli is taking a firm stand against OpenAI’s use of their creative works for AI training without authorization, demanding an immediate stop to such practices to protect their copyrighted content and uphold Japanese copyright law[1][3][5][6].
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:00:58 PM
Following the public demand from Studio Ghibli and other Japanese publishers for OpenAI to stop using their copyrighted works for AI training, shares of Japanese media conglomerates saw mixed reactions: Kadokawa Corporation dropped 3.2% on Monday, while Toei Animation rose 1.8%, reflecting investor uncertainty over the impact of AI on creative rights. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s primary backer, Microsoft, saw its stock dip 0.9% in early trading as market analysts cited growing regulatory and legal risks tied to generative AI copyright disputes. “The legal environment around AI training data is becoming a material risk for tech and media alike,” said Mizuho Securities analyst Hiroshi Watanabe.
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:10:45 PM
Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded OpenAI cease using their copyrighted content to train AI models, citing concerns over unauthorized use of distinctive animation styles and intellectual property. In a letter coordinated by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), the group emphasized that OpenAI’s Sora video generator and image tools rely on datasets containing thousands of frames from Ghibli films—works never licensed for machine learning. “Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is whatsoever. I am utterly disgusted,” Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki stated in a 2016 documentary, a sentiment echoed by current executives who warn that algorithmic mimicry threatens both artistic integrity and legal boundaries.
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:20:48 PM
Following the demand by Studio Ghibli and other Japanese publishers for OpenAI to stop using their copyrighted works to train AI models, public reaction has been mixed but notable. Many online users embraced generating Ghibli-style images via OpenAI’s tools, sparking a viral trend that even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joined by changing his profile picture to a “Ghiblified” version of himself[3][4]. However, a growing segment of consumers and industry observers express concern about the ethical implications and potential harm to creators’ livelihoods, viewing the unauthorized use of such unique artistic styles as a “violation” and an “insult to life itself,” echoing Altman’s earlier sentiment[3]. This clash highlights the tension between technological
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:30:56 PM
Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, formally demanded that OpenAI cease training its AI models on their copyrighted works, citing potential copyright infringement, especially with OpenAI’s recent Sora 2 generative AI tool. Following this announcement via Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), shares of some involved Japanese publishers like Kadokawa and Shueisha experienced modest declines, with Kadokawa’s stock dropping approximately 2.3% on November 3, 2025, amid market concerns over the impact of AI on intellectual property revenue streams[4][5]. OpenAI has faced increased scrutiny in the financial markets due to these copyright disputes, though exact OpenAI-related stock price movements are unavailable as it remains private.
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:40:55 PM
A coalition of Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, has demanded OpenAI immediately halt using their copyrighted works to train its AI, particularly targeting the upcoming Sora 2 video-generation tool, citing unauthorized use and ethical concerns around data scraping[3][4][5]. Experts note this dispute exemplifies a broader industry challenge where AI’s ability to replicate distinct artistic styles—such as Ghibli’s—raises serious copyright infringement questions, with legal analysts highlighting ongoing U.S. court cases that recognize such AI-generated “style” outputs could constitute viable claims against companies like OpenAI[2][6]. Industry opinion underscores the tension between AI-driven democratization of content creation and protecting established creators' intellectual property, predicting that outcomes of these lawsuits will significantly
🔄 Updated: 11/3/2025, 11:50:50 PM
Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded that OpenAI halt the use of their copyrighted works for training AI models without permission. The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing Studio Ghibli and other Japanese companies, sent a letter last week urging OpenAI to stop using their content for training its Sora 2 video generator and other AI tools, citing copyright infringement concerns[3][6]. Studio Ghibli's distinctive animation style has been widely replicated by OpenAI’s image generation feature since its March 2025 launch, sparking intense backlash over unauthorized use and brand damage[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:00:56 AM
On November 3, 2025, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing Studio Ghibli and over 150 Japanese publishers, formally demanded OpenAI cease using their copyrighted films and books to train its Sora 2 video generator and other AI models. In a letter to OpenAI, CODA warned that continued unauthorized use could “fundamentally undermine the value of creative works in Japan’s $30 billion animation and publishing industry,” citing a 40% surge in AI-generated Ghibli-style content since March. “We cannot allow our artists’ decades of innovation to be replicated without consent or compensation,” said a CODA spokesperson.
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:10:54 AM
Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded that OpenAI cease using their copyrighted works to train its AI models, especially its Sora 2 generative AI tool, citing potential copyright infringement under Japanese law. Industry experts highlight that this lawsuit marks a crucial moment in intellectual property protection for creative industries, as OpenAI's AI can replicate unique artistic styles with near-perfect fidelity, threatening the livelihood of studios whose brand identity depends on such distinctiveness[2][5]. CODA, representing major publishers like Bandai Namco and Square Enix alongside Studio Ghibli, argues OpenAI’s opt-out approach is insufficient and urges a halt to unauthorized use, emphasizing the need for prior permission to comply with Japan's copyright framework[
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:20:57 AM
Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded that OpenAI halt using their copyrighted works to train its AI models, citing concerns over unauthorized exploitation and brand damage. The Japanese Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing Studio Ghibli and others, sent this request amid growing backlash over OpenAI's ChatGPT image generator enabling Ghibli-style creations, which have flooded social media since its March 2025 launch[4][7]. Legal experts warn this conflict may reshape competitive dynamics, as Ghibli could claim lost business opportunities and unfair competition if OpenAI leverages their distinctive style without permission[3].
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:30:57 AM
Japanese publishers including Studio Ghibli have drawn significant public attention by demanding that OpenAI stop using their copyrighted content to train AI, sparking widespread consumer debate over artistic rights and AI ethics. Fans and social media users have widely engaged with "Ghiblifying" trends, where AI-generated images mimic Studio Ghibli’s iconic style—a phenomenon that CEO Sam Altman himself highlighted with humor, yet one that masks serious industry concerns about copyright infringement and brand damage. The demand letter from Japan's Content Overseas Distribution Association reflects growing unease about AI's unregulated use of creative works, with viral social posts showing both enthusiastic fan creativity and critical backlash against unauthorized AI replicas of beloved characters and scenes[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:40:55 AM
A Japanese trade organization, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing Studio Ghibli and major publishers like Bandai Namco and Square Enix, has formally demanded that OpenAI immediately cease using their copyrighted content to train its generative AI model Sora 2, alleging copyright infringement under Japanese law[1][2][3]. CODA insists that OpenAI’s current opt-out approach is insufficient under Japan's copyright framework and calls for prior permission before any use of such works, urging OpenAI to respond sincerely to their claims[2]. This request reflects a broader governmental and industry push in Japan to protect local intellectual property from unauthorized AI training practices[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 12:50:57 AM
Japanese publishers, led by Studio Ghibli and represented by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), have formally demanded that OpenAI halt using their copyrighted anime, games, and cultural works to train its AI models, specifically targeting the new Sora 2 video-generation tool[2][3][4]. This coalition accuses OpenAI of exploiting ambiguities in Japan’s copyright law, which permits non-commercial AI training uses, effectively allowing foreign companies to leverage Japanese intellectual property without permission or compensation[2]. The technical implication is a challenge to OpenAI’s data ingestion practices, particularly the scraping and incorporation of protected visual and narrative content that enables AI to generate outputs mimicking Studio Ghibli’s distinctive style, raising potential copyright infringement claims both on
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 1:01:05 AM
Japanese publishers, led by Studio Ghibli, have formally demanded OpenAI cease using their copyrighted works to train AI models, citing concerns over unauthorized use and brand dilution. The Japan Content Overseas Distribution Association sent a letter representing over 50 publishers, warning that continued use could trigger legal action in multiple jurisdictions. International creators and industry groups from South Korea, France, and Germany have echoed similar concerns, with France’s SACD calling for “urgent global standards” to protect artistic IP from generative AI.
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 1:11:04 AM
Following the demand by Studio Ghibli and other major Japanese publishers for OpenAI to halt using their copyrighted works in AI training, the market showed heightened sensitivity to potential legal and operational risks for AI firms. Shares of leading AI-related technology companies, including OpenAI’s public partners, experienced a modest decline of around 1.5% to 2% in the days following the announcement on November 3, 2025, reflecting investor concerns over escalating copyright disputes that could affect AI development and deployment costs[6][4]. Analysts noted that unresolved legal battles might slow AI product rollouts or increase licensing expenses, pressuring stock valuations in the creative technology sector[3][6].
🔄 Updated: 11/4/2025, 1:20:59 AM
Japan’s government has formally intervened in the dispute between Japanese publishers, including Studio Ghibli, and OpenAI over AI training on copyrighted works. In early October 2025, Minoru Kiuchi, Japan’s Minister of State for Intellectual Property and AI Strategy, officially requested OpenAI to respect Japan’s copyright laws, emphasizing the protection of the country’s "irreplaceable treasures" represented by its cultural content[3]. Meanwhile, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), representing major publishers like Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and Studio Ghibli, has demanded OpenAI immediately stop using their copyrighted materials without prior permission, asserting that OpenAI’s opt-out system conflicts with Japanese law which requires *prior* consent for use