Sony’s anime subsidiary Aniplex is one of several major Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) members who’s requested the organisation write to OpenAI about the unauthorised training of its content by video generator Sora 2.
Sora 2 allows users to write prompts in order to create short videos and animations, with the output trained on existing works, thus sparking the copyright conversation.
The body claims it’s “confirmed a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images” and that it “considers the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement”.
The association notes that Sora 2 adopts an “opt-out system based on requests from copyright holders” but points out that in Japan “prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works”.
It’s thus requested that CODA members’ content is not “used for machine learning without their permission” and that OpenAI elaborates on how its copyrighted materials have been used thus far.
It’s worth noting that CODA’s members include giants in the anime industry, such as Sony’s Aniplex, as well as Bandai Namco, Studio Ghibli, Square Enix, Kadokawa, Shueisha, and many others.
Sony will be particularly frustrated to see its works being used in this way, as it’s been investing massively into anime of late, which it sees a key growth area.
This year alone it’s had two huge global Box Office successes in the form of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle and Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc.