Studio Ghibli Faces Legal Hurdles in Battle Against OpenAI’s ChatGPT "Ghiblifying" Feature

Studio Ghibli Faces Legal Battle Against OpenAI's "Ghiblifying" Tool

Studio Ghibli, one of the legendary anime production companies responsible for timeless classics like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, is battling OpenAI's latest image-making tool, "Ghiblifying" — software that allows users to turn images into the shape of Ghibli's signature, trademarked, hand-drawn style. Ghibli may not, however, succeed on a case against OpenAI of copyright violation, experts believe.

The Case of the Naked Cowboy

At the heart of the debate are two fundamental questions of law:

1. Did OpenAI train its AI on copyrighted Ghibli content illegally? No, it is unlikely. If OpenAI used Ghibli's artwork without their permission to train its models, the studio could potentially claim a copyright infringement.
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3. Is creating "Ghibli-style" images an act of copyright violation? Copyright does cover original work but not, as the case may be, the style of work. Since "Ghiblifying" is not the direct copy of existing copyrighted pictures, it falls in between.

Difficulties encountered by Ghibli in Court

Though Ghibli may argue that OpenAI's AI was trained on their productions, another issue is establishing it in the courtroom. AI are usually trained on large databases, and therefore it is difficult to ascertain whether Ghibli's single productions were utilized. Moreover, case law establishes that copying an artistic style is not an infringement on copyright, yet another blow to Ghibli's position.

Industry Reactions: Anger within Ghibli Creators

Co-founder of Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, has not shied away from expressing his contempt for artwork generated through artificial intelligence. In his previous interview,

"If individuals are going to make something this reprehensible, then let them, but I don't wish my work to be a part of it. This is a crime against life itself."

Similarly, acclaimed anime director Megumi Ishitani demonstrated frustration as follows:

"You've tarnished the reputation of Ghibli. I'll never forgive you."

OpenAI's growing influence

Notwithstanding the backlash, OpenAI's "Ghiblifying" tool is one massive hit, counting over one million users as of the day following release. The overnight popularity is indicative of the growing demand even as there is ethical objection from the traditional artists and production houses.

What's next from Studio Ghibli?

Since there are legal intricacies, there are not many choices available to Ghibli. They can seek to lobby for stricter copyright legislation, new legislation regulating AI training information, or seek to negotiate with OpenAI. Short of an international change to copyright legislation to include AI-generated material, the war over artistic style is here to remain.