Japanese Government Warns OpenAI Over Anime IP

Japan’s government has formally requested that OpenAI halt copyright infringement involving Japanese intellectual property, following misuse of its video-generation tool, Sora 2. Officials, including Minister of State for IP and AI Strategy Minoru Kiuchi and Digital Minister Masaaki Taira, described anime and manga as “irreplaceable treasures” and warned that non-compliance could lead to action under the new AI Promotion Act. The tool, launched on October 1st, can create 20-second HD videos and has been used to generate clips featuring characters from major franchises such as One Piece, Pokémon, and Mario. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged concerns and pledged tighter content controls. Rights holders, such as Nintendo, reaffirmed their legal protections, while experts warn that OpenAI could face global copyright challenges if violations persist.

GameSpot, Lan Pitts – Japanese Government Makes Formal Request For OpenAI To Stop Copyright Infringement – 14th October 2025