“AI is just stealing with extra steps”: Japanese manga publisher Shueisha issues statement against OpenAI
Japanese manga publisher Shueisha has publicly condemned OpenAI after a wave of AI-generated videos appeared to mimic iconic anime and manga works without consent.Shueisha has published some of the biggest names in manga, which have also been adapted into beloved anime TV series. Titles published through its Shōnen Jump and Jump Square magazines include One Piece, Dragon Ball, Blue Exorcist, and Chainsaw Man. At the end of September, OpenAI put out a preview of Sora 2, its updated video generator. Soon after, a clip titled "Temu Blue Exorcist" spread across social media, clearly referencing the manga of the same name.Shueisha’s statement toward OpenAIShueisha published a detailed complaint and stressed, translated from Japanese, that several OpenAI videos "infringe on copyrights for anime and characters." The company added, "Advances in generative AI should be welcomed as they enable more people to share the joy of creation and enjoy creative works. However, this should not be achieved by trampling on the dignity of artists who poured their heart and soul into their world and violating the rights of many others."The complaint argued that creators needed more control than a single opt-out form. It noted that these systems often failed to secure informed consent. Shueisha added, "Regardless of whether generative AI is used or not, we will take appropriate and strict action against anything that we determine to be infringing the rights related to our works."@cpasDryNa/XThat being said, it is common knowledge in the fandom at large that manga and anime companies overwork their creatives. Burnout and long-term physical health risks are widespread in these industries. Anime News Network (ANN) reported that 98% of mangaka are self-employed. "This means that there's nothing stopping people from working 18-hour days, and some artists freely admit to doing just that to meet tight deadlines," wrote ANN.Meanwhile, other major companies issued similar concerns. CODA, an organization founded in 2002 to combat piracy of Japanese media and promote them globally, released a statement. It said that "a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images." It warned that "the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement."Online reactions to Shueisha’s statementAnime and manga fans responded quickly to the news. X user @SamuelDeats wrote, "YYYEAAAAAHH BOOOYYYYYY, KEEP THE BLOWS COMIN'!!!!!" https://twitter.com/SamuelDeats/status/1985431018388521434@MelonTeee/X@ultralevixz1 added, "SHUEISHA ACTUALLY DOING [SOMETHING] GOOD FOR ONCE."https://twitter.com/ultralevixz1/status/1985781014849827218Several others supported firm enforcement. @JamTelevision wrote, "I agree with their statement of going after anyone who uses it to harm the integrity of the original creator/author." Meanwhile, @GoatPhew wrote simply, "F*CKING GET THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!"https://twitter.com/GoatPhew/status/1985459197836677422Yet some comments criticized Shueisha’s stance. For example, @Meow256Meow noted that "ONE PIECE official & Eiichiro Oda had actively released AI music (by using suno) and AI profile generator(by using generative AI to i2i) since GenAI released."@Meow256Meow/XThe internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s newsletter here.Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.The post “AI is just stealing with extra steps”: Japanese manga publisher Shueisha issues statement against OpenAI appeared first on The Daily Dot.
Shueisha, the publisher behind some of the most beloved and globally recognized manga series like *One Piece*, *Dragon Ball*, *Blue Exorcist*, and *Chainsaw Man*, argues that these AI-generated videos are essentially stealing the hard work and creativity of artists. In a detailed complaint, Shueisha stated that several OpenAI videos "infringe on copyrights for anime and characters."
While Shueisha acknowledges the potential benefits of generative AI in fostering creativity, they firmly believe it shouldn't come at the expense of artists' rights and dignity. "Advances in generative AI should be welcomed as they enable more people to share the joy of creation and enjoy creative works. However, this should not be achieved by trampling on the dignity of artists who poured their heart and soul into their world and violating the rights of many others," the company emphasized.
Shueisha isn't just asking for a simple opt-out option. They contend that creators need more control over how their work is used in AI training and that current systems often fail to secure informed consent. The publisher has vowed to take "appropriate and strict action against anything that we determine to be infringing the rights related to our works," regardless of whether generative AI is involved.
CODA, an organization dedicated to combating piracy of Japanese media, echoed Shueisha's concerns, stating that "a large portion of content produced by Sora 2 closely resembles Japanese content or images" and warning that "the act of replication during the machine learning process may constitute copyright infringement."
Online reactions to Shueisha's statement have been mixed. Many fans expressed strong support for the publisher's stance, praising them for defending artists' rights. One X user wrote, "YYYEAAAAAHH BOOOYYYYYY, KEEP THE BLOWS COMIN'!!!!!" Another added, "SHUEISHA ACTUALLY DOING [SOMETHING] GOOD FOR ONCE."
However, some have criticized Shueisha, pointing to instances where the company or its creators have used AI in their own projects. One user noted that the creator of *One