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July 24, 2026
 

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COPYRIGHTS

Content that infringes on an artist¡¯s copyrights include using AI to make a live-action version of an anime from images of celebrities or generating anime characters¡¯ voices to have them sing popular songs.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jul 9, 2026
AI-related copyright losses cost celebrities up to ?4.5 billion, study says
Over 43,000 AI-generated images and videos that used celebrities¡¯ likenesses without their consent were created over a two-month period last year.
The culture agency is looking to pass the copyright revision in the current parliamentary session ending in July and aims to have the law take effect within the next three years.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
May 15, 2026
Copyright law revision to extend compensation for artists
The Cabinet on Friday pushed forward the bill, which, once passed by parliament, aims to pass on usage fees to musicians.
A new crackdown on online piracy and counterfeit goods by Vietnam will also tackle copyright violations by ?computer programs, movies, music, TV shows and online video games.
BUSINESS
May 6, 2026
Vietnam cracks down on online piracy and counterfeit goods amid U.S. tariff threat
Washington revived the prospect of fresh tariffs last week over Hanoi¡¯s ?¡°persistent failure¡± to tackle intellectual property violations.
As Japan accelerates AI adoption, policymakers and corporations frame the technology as essential to offsetting a projected labor shortfall of 11 million workers by 2040.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / Longform
Mar 2, 2026
Japan is betting big on AI. Few workers have used it.
Surveys show strong public confidence, despite shallow workplace adoption and unresolved cultural concerns.
The Cultural Affairs Agency will introduce a new system in April that compels users to pay copyright fees even in cases in which the creator or the copyright holder is not known.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Feb 27, 2026
Culture agency to charge fees for use of works by unknown authors
From April, copyright holders of previously unattributed works who come forward after the agency grants usage permission for them can obtain compensation from it.
The joint venture by Sony Music Group and Singapore¡¯s GIC will give the Japanese entertainment company funds to build up its portfolio of songs.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 29, 2026
Sony and Singapore¡¯s GIC to invest $2 billion in music catalogs
The joint venture will give the Japanese entertainment company funds to build up its portfolio of songs.
Japan is cracking down on online piracy and counterfeit products related to Japanese anime, games and other content, which caused over ?10 trillion in damages.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Jan 27, 2026
Japan content piracy and fake goods cause ?10.4 trillion in damage
The government is aiming to crack down on illegal activities to reach its goal of increasing overseas sales of the Japanese content industry to ?20 trillion by 2033.
Cartoonist Mitsuru Yaku (center) and other executives of Freelance League of Japan announces their survey to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jan 21, 2026
One in 10 Japanese creatives see income fall due to generative AI
Survey respondents cited being asked to accept shorter deadlines and lower fees, or losing commissions altogether.
Japan's content industry ¡ª which includes anime, manga and video games ¡ª is a major export the country. Such exports were valued at ?6 trillion ($38 billion) in 2024.
BUSINESS / Tech / FOCUS
Jan 19, 2026
AI-driven pirated manga is booming. Can AI also help curb it?
While artificial intelligence is driving the spread of pirated manga online, Japanese government officials are hoping AI can also help rein it in.
Generative AI models are trained on publicly accessible creative content yet offer little to the artists, musicians, coders and others who produce it.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 18, 2025
AI thrives on unpaid creative labor
Generative AI models are trained on publicly accessible creative content yet offer little to the artists, musicians, coders and others who produce it.
Yona, developer of the indie game "and Roger," at his game's stand at Tokyo Game Show 2025 in Chiba on Sept. 25.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Dec 3, 2025
Unique low-budget indie games draw attention in Japan
Advances in development tools have helped lower barriers to entry, spurring a surge in creators and driving rapid market growth.
Cloudflare has been ordered to pay ?500 million after four major publishing firms accused the firm of copyright infringement for its role in hosting sites that distribute pirated copies of manga titles.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Nov 20, 2025
Japanese court orders Cloudflare to pay ?500 million over manga piracy
Four major publishing firms accused Cloudflare of copyright infringement for its role in hosting sites that distribute pirated copies of manga titles.
The Asahi, along with the Nikkei and the Yomiuri Shimbun, filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court against Perplexity in August.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media
Nov 14, 2025
AI poses threat to journalism in Japan, news association chair says
Japan¡¯s publishers are concerned about the impact generative artificial intelligence is having on the news business, Shiro Nakamura said.
The Munich court found that OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, was not entitled to use song lyrics to train its artificial intelligence without licenses, and that the artists who wrote them are entitled to compensation.
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 12, 2025
German court rules against OpenAI in copyright case
OpenAI has faced court cases in the U.S. regarding their ChatGPT, but the challenge in Germany is the first major case of its kind in Europe, a German music rights group said.
KDDI said its AI service, which will be launched in spring 2026, will ¡°protect the rights of content providers.¡±
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 29, 2025
KDDI enters into ¡®responsible¡¯ AI agreement with Google
The ¡°responsible¡± AI service would only shows content that creators have given consent to.
Sora 2, a short-form video app made by OpenAI, enables users to create realistic AI videos with text prompts, but critics say that there are insufficient guardrails ¡ª from a lack of copyright consideration to families of public figures upset by the reanimation of their loved ones.
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 16, 2025
Japan¡¯s government asks OpenAI to seek permission amid Sora 2 copyright concerns
Sora 2 enables users to create realistic AI videos with text prompts, but critics say that there are insufficient guardrails.
OpenAI has rolled out a social app powered by Sora 2, its artificial intelligence video generator, which was quickly flooded with videos featuring iconic Japanese intellectual property.
BUSINESS / Tech
Oct 7, 2025
OpenAI¡¯s Sora 2 is drowning in Japanese ¡®AI slop¡¯
Iconic Japanese characters are prevalent across Sora 2, but legally, this places the company on shaky ground.
Pokemon said it has not given permission to use its upbeat theme music and imagery for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's deportation video posted on X and TikTok.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 26, 2025
U.S. Department of Homeland Security doubles down on Pokemon-themed deportation video
The Pokemon Co. said they had no involvement in the Pokemon-themed arrest and deportation video.
Nikkei and the Asahi Shimbun have sued Perplexity AI over alleged copyright infringement.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Aug 26, 2025
Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun sue Perplexity AI over alleged copyright violations
The newspapers are seeking an injunction and ?2.2 billion each in damages from Perplexity, they said in a joint statement. The suit was filed at the Tokyo District Court.
A San Francisco District Court has ruled that Meta's use of copyrighted works to train its AI model was "transformative" enough to constitute "fair use" under copyright law, in the second such courtroom triumph for AI firms this week.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 26, 2025
U.S. judge rules for Meta in AI training copyright case but says it isn¡¯t lawful
The ruling said the authors could have pitched a winning argument ¡ª that by training AI with copyrighted works, tech firms are creating competition in the marketplace.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

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