November 4, 2025
Totoro vs Terminator
Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, Square Enix Demand OpenAI to Stop Using Their IP
Fans cry "you wouldn't steal a handbag" as others say AI art is tasteless, not illegal
TLDR: CODA, representing Ghibli and other Japanese creators, told OpenAI to stop training Sora 2 with their work and called the opt-out approach unlawful in Japan. Comments split between calling AI training “stealing,” arguing it’s gross but legal, and debating whether copying style without skill crosses a line.
The anime world just threw a flag on the play: Japan’s anti-piracy group CODA, representing giants like Studio Ghibli, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix, released a letter demanding OpenAI stop using their content to train Sora 2. They argue the “replication” in machine learning might be copyright infringement—especially since Sora’s launch sparked an avalanche of Japanese IP lookalikes and even the government formally asked OpenAI to stop replicating Japanese artwork. Cue the comments section going full courtroom drama.
The loudest voices? Anti-piracy crusaders quoting the classic PSA: “You wouldn’t steal a handbag”—with signa11 boiling it down to “AI training is stealing.” Others want to end fair-use protections for mass data harvesting, warning creators will escalate anti-piracy tactics. But the thread isn’t one-note: mafriese delivers the brainy hot take, asking if removing the “skill requirement” for copying makes it illegal when painting “in a Ghibli style” yourself isn’t. toinewx insists it’s obvious OpenAI feasted on Ghibli art, while awakeasleep draws a sharp line: tasteless and awful, but not illegal.
The memes fly fast—people even point to Sam Altman’s Ghibli-esque profile pic as Exhibit A—and policy drama heats up after Altman pledged changes to Sora’s opt-out policy, which CODA says may violate Japan’s law. Verdict from the crowd: this is anime vs algorithm, and nobody’s logging off.
Key Points
- •CODA issued a letter asking OpenAI to stop using members’ content to train Sora 2.
- •CODA asserts replication during machine learning may constitute copyright infringement under Japanese law.
- •Sora 2’s launch on September 30 led to a surge of content featuring Japanese IP, prompting government action.
- •Japan’s government formally asked OpenAI to stop replicating Japanese artwork.
- •OpenAI plans to change Sora’s opt-out policy, but CODA argues opt-out may violate Japan’s requirement for prior permission.