Japanese Publishers Target OpenAI

Drama

04 November 2025 13:38

Several major Japanese publishers including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and Kadokawa have joined a collective call urging OpenAI to cease using their creative works to train its generative AI video model, Sora 2.

The appeal comes through an open letter issued by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an organization established under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs. CODA’s mission centers on supporting Japanese content internationally and combating piracy.

In its statement, CODA expressed serious concerns that Sora 2’s output appears to draw heavily from Japanese creative works.

“CODA has confirmed that a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images,” the organization said. “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.”

CODA’s letter also criticized OpenAI’s opt-out system, which allows rights holders to request that their works be excluded from future training datasets. According to CODA, this approach conflicts with Japan’s copyright laws, which require prior permission before copyrighted material can be used.

“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,” the organization added.

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Tags: OpenAI Bandai Manco Square Enix

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Japanese Publishers Target OpenAI

Drama

04 November 2025 13:38

Tags: OpenAI Bandai Manco Square Enix

Several major Japanese publishers including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and Kadokawa have joined a collective call urging OpenAI to cease using their creative works to train its generative AI video model, Sora 2.

The appeal comes through an open letter issued by the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an organization established under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs. CODA’s mission centers on supporting Japanese content internationally and combating piracy.

In its statement, CODA expressed serious concerns that Sora 2’s output appears to draw heavily from Japanese creative works.

“CODA has confirmed that a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images,” the organization said. “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.”

CODA’s letter also criticized OpenAI’s opt-out system, which allows rights holders to request that their works be excluded from future training datasets. According to CODA, this approach conflicts with Japan’s copyright laws, which require prior permission before copyrighted material can be used.

“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,” the organization added.

More:TSM to Leave Valorant

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