AI Copyright Controversies Spotlighted by OpenAI’s Viral Studio Ghibli Moment | TechCrunch

It’s only been a day since ChatGPT released its new AI image generator, and social media is buzzing with creative memes in the distinctive style of Studio Ghibli. This beloved Japanese animation studio has brought us classics like "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Spirited Away."

In just 24 hours, users have produced AI art depicting Studio Ghibli interpretations of various subjects, including Elon Musk and scenes from "The Lord of the Rings." Even OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, has jumped on the trend, using an AI-generated Studio Ghibli-style image as his new profile picture. Many users are simply uploading existing images and asking ChatGPT to reimagine them in this unique style.

The arrival of OpenAI’s image generator comes right after Google launched a similar feature in its Gemini tool. This trend has raised questions about copyright and whether these companies are infringing on the rights of original artists.

Evan Brown, an intellectual property lawyer, says that products like the GPT-4o image generator operate in a tricky legal space. He notes that while a specific style isn’t protected by copyright, there are concerns about how AI models learn from copyrighted material. Brown points out, “We are still figuring out the fine line between inspiration and infringement.”

This issue is particularly relevant as multiple lawsuits against OpenAI and other companies, like Meta and Midjourney, claim they used copyrighted material to train their AI without permission. Recently, The New York Times and various publishers have filed lawsuits against OpenAI, arguing the company didn’t provide proper attribution or payment.

OpenAI states that while ChatGPT won’t replicate the styles of current individual artists, it can emulate broader studio styles. This statement has drawn attention to the contributions of artists like Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, who has shaped the studio’s signature look.

Users have also experimented with GPT-4o to generate images in other artistic styles. One user created a portrait of Marc Andreessen in a Dr. Seuss style, while another couple transformed their wedding photos into art resembling Pixar’s animations.

In tests comparing AI image generators, OpenAI’s tool proved to create the best replicas of Studio Ghibli’s style.

While these advancements in AI image generation are exciting, they raise profound legal questions regarding creativity and ownership. The world is watching closely, and the legal terrain will continue to evolve as these companies navigate the complexities of copyright law. For now, the surge in demand for these fun and innovative tools seems to be the primary focus for OpenAI and Google, but the legal implications will unfold in time.

For more on copyright issues related to AI, check this report from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

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