The Japan Content Overseas Distribution Association has issued a formal letter to OpenAI, urging the company to immediately cease using its members' copyrighted materials without proper authorization for the purpose of training AI models. Studio Ghibli, in particular, has felt the repercussions of OpenAI's generative AI products, as works resembling its distinctive style have become a favorite among users for AI-generated imagery.

OpenAI's approach of adopting a "seek forgiveness rather than permission" strategy has sparked a wave of complaints and resistance. Presently, U.S. copyright law lacks explicit guidelines on the utilization of copyrighted content for AI training, and there are no established legal precedents for interpretation in this regard. In contrast, Japan maintains that employing specific copyrighted works to generate new content could potentially constitute infringement and typically necessitates obtaining prior consent.

Studio Ghibli's founder, Hayao Miyazaki, has unequivocally voiced his disdain for AI-generated 3D animations. At this juncture, it remains uncertain whether OpenAI will heed this call. Should the company choose to disregard it, it may find itself facing the threat of legal action.