Japanese intellectual property holders are directly challenging OpenAI, asserting that the artificial intelligence firm’s current training practices and opt-out policy for its Sora 2 model violate local copyright laws. The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), a prominent Japanese anti-piracy organization, has sent an open letter demanding OpenAI cease using its members’ content without authorization.
CODA represents a consortium of leading Japanese intellectual property owners, including major entities such as Studio Ghibli and Bandai Namco. The organization believes that the replication of content during machine learning phases, particularly when Sora 2 generates material featuring copyrighted characters, may constitute copyright infringement.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in October that the company would implement a system allowing intellectual property owners to opt out of having their content used to train Sora 2. However, CODA argues this policy inherently violates Japanese law from its inception.
Japanese legal statutes mandate that prior permission must be secured before any intellectual property can be utilized. CODA emphasizes that no subsequent action or opt-out mechanism can retroactively legitimize the initial unauthorized use of intellectual property.
This current demand follows an earlier official request from the Japanese government to OpenAI. The government previously urged the AI company to stop copying Japanese artwork, citing instances where Sora 2 generated content closely resembling characters created by Japanese artists.
Examples include Ghibli-style imagery, some of which even Altman himself reportedly generated. CODA is now calling on OpenAI to “respond sincerely” to its members’ demands and immediately halt the unauthorized use of their content for AI training and operation.