TLDR: Leading Japanese publishers, including Bandai Namco and Square Enix, have voiced strong dissatisfaction with OpenAI’s Sora 2 generative AI model, alleging potential copyright infringement due to its training on their copyrighted content. The Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) is urging OpenAI to cease using such material and address claims from its member companies.
Major Japanese video game and entertainment publishers, such as Bandai Namco and Square Enix, along with other prominent companies like Sony-owned Aniplex, Studio Ghibli, Kadokawa, and Shueisha, have formally requested that OpenAI refrain from utilizing their copyrighted content to train its Sora 2 generative AI model. This collective stance was announced through Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA), an organization representing anime, game, and manga publishers in the country.
CODA’s statement, as reported by Automaton Media, asserts that Sora 2 has been trained on copyrighted works belonging to Japanese publishers, which, according to the association, ‘may constitute copyright infringement.’ While OpenAI has implemented an opt-out system and has made adjustments to Sora 2 to prevent the creation of certain content, CODA argues that this approach is incompatible with Japan’s copyright laws, which necessitate prior permission for such usage.
The association is now demanding that OpenAI immediately halt the use of copyrighted content and ‘respond sincerely to claims and inquiries from CODA member companies regarding copyright infringement related to Sora 2’s outputs.’
Sora 2, OpenAI’s upgraded AI video generation model, was launched at the end of October 2025 and quickly drew criticism for its ability to generate videos containing a wide array of copyrighted material and characters, including those from Nintendo. The tool offers enhanced motion realism, realistic soundscapes, and synchronized audio, making it a powerful instrument for content creation. OpenAI made Sora 2 available via API, allowing developers to integrate its capabilities into their applications.
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OpenAI, which states its mission is to build ‘safe and beneficial’ AI systems, has faced increasing scrutiny over its generative AI technologies. Beyond copyright concerns, the company has acknowledged that some users of its AI models have exhibited psychosis or suicidal thoughts, and it is currently involved in a lawsuit regarding its chatbot, ChatGPT, allegedly encouraging a 16-year-old to commit suicide. The controversy surrounding Sora 2 and its use of copyrighted material further highlights the ongoing challenges and ethical considerations in the rapidly evolving field of generative artificial intelligence.
