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The Emergence of Sora 2
On October 1, 2025, OpenAI announced the video generation model “Sora 2” and a social app for iOS that uses the same model. forest.watch This app allows users to generate videos with realistic textures and physical consistency, as well as animation studio-quality footage, all using just their smartphone. forest.w The app also features a “Cameo” feature that allows users to register their own or their friends’ faces and voices to appear in the video, enabling anyone to create professional-quality animations and videos in a short amount of time. forest.
A video featuring a popular Japanese character goes viral, drawing criticism from fans and rights holders
Sora 2 was used to create a flood of videos on X (formerly Twitter) imitating characters from popular anime and video games. It reportedly generated videos with audio that matched the voice actors’ real voices, featuring characters from titles like “Dragon Ball,” “Bleach,” “Naruto,” and “Spirited Away.”
itmedia.co.jp However, these videos were met with a barrage of criticism, with comments like “This is clearly out of line” and “It’s clearly copyright infringement.” LDP Deputy Secretary-General Akihisa Shiozaki, a member of the House of Representatives, also pointed out “serious legal and political issues.”
itmedia.c Particularly problematic was the unfair filtering that allowed popular Japanese characters to be generated while American characters like “Snow White” and “Iron Man” could not.
itmedia.co.jp
For many fans, anime and video games are shared memories, and the image of each character is tied to their attachment to the series. Therefore, the spread of videos that alter the appearance or personality of characters without proper permission is seen as more than just copyright infringement; it is also seen as an act of trampling on the feelings of fans. Copyrighted works are cultural heritage, and distorting their image is a form of destruction against humanity’s precious culture, leading to strong criticism online and from those involved.
Criticisms and legal issues surrounding the opt-out system
OpenAI initially assumed that videos generated by Sora 2 would include existing copyrighted material, and stated that it would allow the generation of videos unless the rights holder requested an opt-out. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company had previously notified some studios and talent agencies prior to the release, asking them to notify them in advance if they did not want their copyrighted material used.itmedia.co.jptheguardian.com This “opt-out” approach, based on the logic that the AI is free to use a work unless the copyright holder voluntarily opts out, has been criticized as significantly infringing on the rights of rights holders.
Japan’s Copyright Act strongly protects the rights of reproduction, public transmission, and integrity, which prohibit unauthorized use of copyrighted works. Unauthorized use of other people’s faces or voices using the Cameo feature infringes on portrait rights and publicity rights, while altering or remixing copyrighted works may violate the right of integrity.forest.watch.impress.co.jpforest.watch.impress.co.jp
While parodies are sometimes recognized as fair use in the United States, there are no fair use regulations in Japan, and modifications that go against the original author’s wishes are not permitted. According to an explanation on Window Forest, the criteria for selecting the content Sora 2 can generate are arbitrary by OpenAI, and the fact that it can generate “Hatsune Miku” and “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” but not “Iron Man” raises concerns that the intent of the rights holders is not reflected.t.watch.impress.co.jp。
CEO Altman’s policy change and consideration for rights holders
Criticism has also grown overseas, with Hollywood talent agencies and film associations protesting against OpenAI. The Guardian reported that OpenAI responded to requests from rights holders to block character generation after a large number of popular characters from series like SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, Pokémon, and Rick & Morty appeared in Sora 2’s feed.theguardian.com. CEO Sam Altman announced a review of the terms of service in a blog post, stating that the company would switch to an “opt-in” system, allowing only characters authorized by rights holders to be generated, and that a system would be introduced that would allow rights holders to specify whether or not characters can be generated. theguardian.com The company also revealed that it is considering a model in which revenue from generated videos would be shared with rights holders.theguardian.com
Altman explained, “Many rights holders see value in this new form of interactive fanfiction, but also want more control over how their content is used.”theguardian.com . This change in policy is in response to criticism that the opt-out system is too user-centric and disregards the rights of copyright holders. Business Insider also reported that industry insiders have criticized the company’s opt-out system, saying it misinterprets current copyright law as “we own your work, so opt out.” businessinsider.com In response to these concerns, OpenAI has pledged to work with rightsholders to establish controls and revenue sharing.
Cultural impact and future challenges
Anime and game characters are deeply felt by fans and can be considered shared cultural assets. The unrestricted spread of AI-generated videos that alter the image of copyrighted works could distort the image of the works that fans hold in their hearts, resulting in cultural loss. The opt-out system proposed by OpenAI lacks consideration for cultural value and fan communities and could be perceived as “destructive to humanity’s precious culture.” It is important to emphasize that this issue not only affects the legal rights of copyright holders, but also the hearts and cultural preservation of those who love the works.
Going forward, AI developers, rights holders, and users must work together to create transparent rules and a safe creative environment. In Japan, revisions to copyright law and the establishment of guidelines are urgently needed. Overseas, rights holders will likely explore new revenue models while developing systems to protect copyrighted works as cultural heritage. The controversy surrounding Sora 2 presents us with the challenges of creative freedom, rights protection, and respect for cultural value in the AI era.
