The Ministry of Culture of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (CODA) has recently made a formal written request to OpenAI to stop using the work of CODA-related companies as a Soa 2 training resource for the new AI video, without authorization.
CODA has been focusing on combating piracy abroad for a long time, and as of April 2025, business members include the British Community, Talk Society, Primary School Hall, Dongbao, Dongming, Jibli Studio, Manami Palace, Square Enix, Aniplex, Kadokawa, NHK, Fuji TV, etc.
In its bulletin of 28 October, CODA stated that since Sora 2 went online on 30 September 2025, it had produced a large amount of content highly imitating original Japanese creations or images, including those protected by specific copyrights.
“The reproduction of a work during the machine learning of Sora 2 may itself constitute a copyright violation”.
Although Sora 2 has a “opt-out” mechanism for copyright holders, CODA stresses that, under the Copyright Act of Japan, the use of copyright-protected works is in principle subject to prior authorization and that “the mechanism of ex post facto opposition does not exonerate responsibility for violations”.
Thus, CODA requires OpenAI not to use the work of CODA members as an AI training resource until it has been authorized to do so, and that OpenAI respond “in good faith” to the copyright queries of CODA members about the content produced by Sora 2.
CODA indicated that since its establishment in 2002, the Association has worked to promote the overseas distribution of Japanese content and to prevent piracy, covering the fields of music, film, animation, broadcasting, games and publishing. The importance of protecting Japanese content against abuse and promoting the healthy development of industry has increased with digital technology. CODA aims to ensure the healthy development of AI technology while safeguarding the rights of creators and authors.
Foreign media The Verge reported that Sora 2 came online and produced a large number of videos with original Japanese elements, which even triggered an official request from the Japanese government that OpenAI stop copying Japanese art. CODA sees this request as an important step in defending Japan’s IP rights and also demonstrates the importance that the content industry attaches to the balance between AI technology and creative rights.