Japan’s Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) has issued a formal written request to OpenAI, demanding that the company stop using Japanese copyrighted content to train its Sora 2 video generator without permission. The platform faces mounting concerns over disinformation, unauthorised performer likenesses, and copyright violations.
CODA submitted the request on 27 October 2025, stating that a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images, which the association determined results from using Japanese content as machine learning data without permission. In cases where specific copyrighted works are reproduced or generated in a similar manner as outputs, CODA considers that the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement.
CODA requested that OpenAI not use its members’ content for machine learning without permission and respond sincerely to copyright infringement claims related to Sora 2’s outputs. Under Japan’s copyright system, prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works, and no system in place allows one to avoid liability for infringement through subsequent objections.
The request follows a formal demand from the Japanese government made by the Cabinet Office’s Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters. As previously reported, the government request came after Sora 2’s 30 September 2025 launch enabled users to generate 20-second videos at 1080p resolution containing likenesses of characters from One Piece, Demon Slayer, Pokémon and Mario franchises.
Manga and anime “irreplaceable treasures”
Speaking at a Cabinet Office press conference, Minoru Kiuchi, minister of state for IP and AI strategy, informed attendees about the government’s request calling on the American organisation to refrain from infringing on Japanese intellectual property. Kiuchi described manga and anime as “irreplaceable treasures” that Japan boasts to the world, reports IGN.
Digital Minister Masaaki Taira expressed hopes that OpenAI will take voluntary action to comply with the request, indicating that measures under Japan’s AI Promotion Act may be invoked if the issue remains unresolved.
The controversy comes as OpenAI faces mounting criticism over Sora 2, which the company launched as a free application for iPhones and other iOS devices on 30 September 2025, generating one million downloads in just five days. A NewsGuard analysis found that Sora 2 produced realistic videos advancing provably false claims 80 per cent of the time when prompted to do so, generating 16 out of 20 false narratives.
Five of the 20 false claims tested by NewsGuard originated from Russian disinformation operations, and Sora produced videos promoting all five, including three claims alleging Moldovan election fraud. The tool generated the videos in under five minutes in most cases.
OpenAI spokesperson Niko Felix said the videos “appear to violate OpenAI’s usage policies, which prohibit misleading others through impersonation, scams, or fraud”. He added that “we take action when we detect misuse”.
The platform has also faced controversy over the unauthorised use of performers’ likenesses. Bryan Cranston’s voice and likeness were generated in Sora 2 outputs without consent or compensation when OpenAI launched the platform in an invite-only release, prompting the company to strengthen guardrails around replication of voice and likeness.
SAG-AFTRA, OpenAI, Cranston, United Talent Agency, Creative Artists Agency and the Association of Talent Agents jointly released a statement addressing the incident. OpenAI maintains an opt-in policy for the use of an individual’s voice or likeness in Sora 2, with all artists, performers, and individuals having the right to determine how and whether they can be simulated.
In his 4 October blog post on Sora 2, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said changes would be made to the video generation application, stating the company will give rightsholders more granular control over the generation of characters, similar to the opt-in model for likeness but with additional controls. Altman made specific reference to Japan, saying the company is “struck by how deep the connection between users and Japanese content is”.
CODA, established in 2002 at the request of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Agency for Cultural Affairs, promotes the overseas development of Japanese content and takes measures to combat piracy. Japan’s content, including music, movies, anime, broadcast programmes, video games and publishing, plays a vital role in enhancing the nation’s international presence and economic growth.
At the time of publication, OpenAI had not issued a formal response regarding CODA’s request.
