Japan’s most iconic creative powerhouse, Studio Ghibli, is leading a growing pushback against OpenAI’s use of copyrighted material for AI training.

A Japanese trade group, the Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) — representing publishers like Studio Ghibli — has formally requested that OpenAI stop using their creative works to train AI models without prior consent.

CODA’s letter, sent last week, emphasizes that OpenAI’s generative AI tools, including ChatGPT’s image and video generators, may be infringing on Japanese copyright law.

Ghibli’s Style Has Become a Viral Trend in AI Art

When OpenAI’s built-in image generator launched earlier this year, social media users began prompting the tool to create “Ghibli-style” versions of selfies, pets, and even celebrities.

The trend became so viral that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman briefly changed his X (formerly Twitter) profile photo to a Ghibli-inspired image — something that, according to Japan’s publishers, reflects a deeper issue of unauthorized artistic replication.

>be me
>grind for a decade trying to help make superintelligence to cure cancer or whatever
>mostly no one cares for first 7.5 years, then for 2.5 years everyone hates you for everything
>wake up one day to hundreds of messages: "look i made you into a twink ghibli style haha"

— Sam Altman (@sama) March 26, 2025

CODA Warns of Legal Risks Under Japanese Copyright Law

While U.S. law still offers ambiguous guidance on AI training and fair use, Japan’s copyright system is far stricter.

According to CODA, even the replication of artistic styles or characters during machine learning could be seen as copyright infringement in Japan.

“Under Japan’s copyright system, prior permission is generally required for the use of copyrighted works,” CODA wrote.
“There is no system allowing one to avoid liability for infringement through subsequent objections.”

This contrasts sharply with OpenAI’s “ask forgiveness, not permission” approach — one that has already sparked controversies involving Nintendo and the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Miyazaki’s Longstanding Opposition to AI-Generated Art

While Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli’s co-founder and creative visionary, hasn’t commented directly on the issue this time, his views on AI-driven creativity are well-known.

In a 2016 interview, after being shown an AI-generated animation clip, Miyazaki expressed disgust, calling it “an insult to life itself.”

His sentiment resonates even more strongly now as AI tools increasingly mimic the artistry and emotional depth that Ghibli films are celebrated for.

Why This Matters

This latest dispute underscores a global debate on how AI companies source and use creative data. With Japan’s publishers uniting under CODA’s banner, OpenAI could soon face legal or regulatory action if it doesn’t comply.

The case could also set a precedent for how AI training on copyrighted works is handled worldwide — especially in creative industries that rely on originality, emotion, and human expression.

For now, Japan’s message to OpenAI is crystal clear:
👉 Respect the art. Ask before you train.