"Irreplaceable Treasures": Japan Officially Requests OpenAI to Safeguard Anime and Manga Intellectual Properties from Sora 2

The request arises from viral Sora 2 clips emulating popular anime and manga characters and styles.

Algi Febri Sugita/ Sopa Images/ Lightrocket/ Getty Images

Japan officially requested the authors of Sora 2, OpenAI, to refrain from actions that may violate Japanese intellectual property rights. The request was initiated following the proliferation of Sora 2 clips emulating popular anime and manga on social media.

Minister Minoru Kiuchi, responsible for IP and AI strategy, communicated the request via the Cabinet Office’s Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters during a press conference held by the Cabinet Office. He described manga and anime as "irreplaceable treasures," asserting that they are essential cultural assets and significant worldwide exports for Japan.

Digital policy leaders, such as Masaaki Taira and Akihisa Shiozaki, indicated that Japan ought to take the initiative in establishing AI regulations. They indicated possible measures under the AI Promotion Act, enacted on September 1, should voluntary compliance prove inadequate.

The announcement detailed that Sora 2's text-to-video technologies produce 1080p, sound-enabled recordings lasting up to 20 seconds, capable of emulating recognizable characters and styles.

Sora 2 has emerged as a contentious issue for intellectual property holders. The app's viral "fan fiction" style mashups have revived longstanding issues around training data, stylistic mimicry, and character similarity in generated video. OpenAI announced it will provide rightsholders with enhanced control over character generation and investigate revenue-sharing options.