Japan Warns OpenAI Over Sora 2 Copyright Infringement of “Irreplaceable” Anime and Manga

The Japanese government has formally requested that OpenAI refrain from infringing on the nation’s anime and manga works, described as Japan’s “irreplaceable treasures.” According to ITMedia, Minister for AI and Intellectual Property Minoru Kōno said at a press conference that OpenAI should not engage in activities that may constitute copyright infringement, emphasising that anime and manga are irreplaceable gems of Japanese culture.

OpenAI’s Sora 2 AI video platform launched on 1 October, enabling users to generate 1080p videos up to 20 seconds long and to create short TikTok‑style clips via a companion app. Reports indicate that some users have used the platform to produce videos featuring copyrighted material from franchises such as Dragon Ball and Pokémon, prompting concern within the creative industry.

The government is pursuing clearer legal safeguards through measures like the AI Promotion Act, while OpenAI has reportedly contacted certain industry partners about excluding their content from Sora 2’s training data.