A number of Japanese publishers, including Square Enix, Bandai Namco and Kadokawa, have publicly called on OpenAI to stop using their creative works to teach its genAI Sora 2 tool.
CODA, the Overseas Content Distribution Association, is a Japanese organization founded at the request of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs to “promote the development of Japanese content overseas and take measures to combat piracy.” published an open letter to OpenAI noting that “much of the content” generated by Sora 2 “is very reminiscent of Japanese content or imagery.”
“CODA has confirmed that much of the content created by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or imagery,” the organization said (thanks, eurogamer). “CODA has determined that this is the result of using Japanese content as machine learning data. In cases, as in the case of Sora 2, where certain copyrighted works are reproduced or similarly generated as output, CODA considers that the act of replication in the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement.
“Furthermore, according to media reports, it has been stated that Sora 2 is responding through an opt-out system based on requests from copyright holders. However, under the Japanese copyright system, prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works, and there is no system to avoid liability for infringement through subsequent objections.”
Consequently, CODA requests that its members' content “not be used for machine learning without their permission” and that OpenAI “respond sincerely to claims and requests from CODA member companies regarding copyright infringement related to Sora 2 results.”
Last month, Nintendo released a statement refuting claims that he lobbied the Japanese government to protect his intellectual property from generative artificial intelligence. Vice versa, Subnautica 2 and PUBG publisher Krafton bills itself as an “AI-focused company.”
Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently stated that the company currently uses AI primarily for Xbox Live security and moderation, and that there is no authority to use it in the creative process.
