"Irreplaceable Treasures": Japan Formally Urges OpenAI to Protect Anime, Manga IPs from Sora 2

Summary

• Japan appealed to OpenAI to prevent Sora 2 from infringing on Japanese IP, calling anime and manga “irreplaceable treasures”
• The request follows viral Sora 2 clips mimicking hit anime and manga characters and styles
• Officials hinted at using the AI Promotion Act if voluntary compliance fails, while OpenAI explores revenue sharing

Japan formally urged Sora 2’s creators OpenAI to avoid conduct that could infringe Japanese IP. The request was made after Sora 2 clips mimicking hit anime and manga flooded social media.

Minister Minoru Kiuchi, who oversees IP and AI strategy, conveyed the request through the Cabinet Office’s Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters during a Cabinet Office press conference. He referred to manga and anime as “irreplaceable treasures,” adding that they are central cultural assets and global exports for Japan.

Digital policy leaders, including Masaaki Taira and Akihisa Shiozaki, also signaled that Japan should lead on AI rules. They referenced potential action under the AI Promotion Act, which was enforced on September 1, if voluntary compliance falls short.

The request was announced as Sora 2’s text-to-video tools made 1080p, sound-on clips up to 20 seconds that can replicate familiar characters and styles.

Sora 2 has become a flashpoint for IP holders. The app’s viral “fan fiction” style mashups resurfaced long-running concerns over training data, style imitation, and character likeness in generated video. OpenAI indicated it will give rightsholders more granular control over character generation and explore revenue sharing.