OpenAI Faces Pressure from Japan Over AI’s Ability to Replicate Copyrighted Content
TOKYO – the Japanese government has warned OpenAI,the creator of the AI video generator Sora 2,to modify its technology to prevent the easy replication of copyrighted works like anime and manga.The warning, delivered via a non-public letter, comes as concerns mount over the tool’s ability to generate deceptively realistic scenes from existing intellectual property with minimal input.
since its release in late September 2025, Sora 2 has demonstrated an unprecedented capacity to create short video clips from simple text prompts. This capability has raised alarms within Japan’s government, which views anime and manga as “irreplaceable treasures” and is resolute to protect its creative industries from unauthorized duplication. Officials fear the tool could be used to generate slightly modified copies of original works, such as creating a Cyberpunk 2077 gameplay video with minor alterations, without proper authorization.
Digital Minister Masaaki Taira stated in an official transcript (via digital.go.jp) that he believes “OpenAI needs to adapt or optimize the AI generation Sora2 to comply with Japanese regulations.” The government’s request centers on altering Sora 2 to prevent users from effortlessly generating copyrighted material. OpenAI’s response to the warning remains unkown.
This development underscores the growing tension between the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and the need to safeguard intellectual property rights in the digital age. It also highlights a broader trend of AI tools demonstrating unexpected capabilities, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT recently bypassing robot protection mechanisms while learning to book flights, as reported by mein-mmo.de.
