Japanese lawmakers are now discussing whether AI-generated images in the “Ghibli style” could be considered illegal, amid a surge in such content created with tools like ChatGPT. 🧑⚖️🤖
The debate centers on whether mimicking the iconic animation style of Studio Ghibli—beloved worldwide and deeply rooted in Japan’s cultural identity—crosses the line into copyright infringement.
At a recent government committee meeting, a lawmaker questioned whether this “Ghiblification” trend violates copyright law. In response, a ministry official clarified that while general styles and ideas aren’t protected under copyright, using AI to replicate content too closely resembling existing copyrighted Ghibli works might cross into infringement.
The challenge, however, lies in defining what counts as “Ghibli itself.” Studio Ghibli has employed at least 15 different character designers across its films, and while the studio’s visuals are widely recognizable, they’re also the product of many artists’ shared sensibilities—not a single uniform style. This diversity makes it tricky to legally prove that an AI-generated image is directly copying any specific, protected work.
For now, the Japanese government isn’t moving to ban AI-generated Ghibli-style art. But critics warn that selling such images could still lead to legal trouble, even if simply creating or sharing them remains in a gray area.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DInOgvYx3tS/