Two Japanese Men Face Jail for Profiting from AI-Generated NSFW Evangelion Artwork, Sparking Copyright Violations in Japan

Two Men Face Prosecution Over AI-Generated Evangelion Content

Kanagawa Prefectural Police have referred two men to the prosecutor’s office for suspected violations of Japan's Copyright Act.

The men, aged 36 and 40, are accused of creating and selling AI-generated artwork based on characters from the popular anime Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

These works, described as "sexually emphasised" by Tokyo Shimbun, reportedly earned them around 10 million yen (approximately US$64,000) from October 2023 to March 2024.

AI Artwork of Asuka and Mari at the Heart of the Dispute

The suspects, a company employee from Yokohama and a self-employed individual from Shiga Prefecture, allegedly used poster data from the Evangelion film to generate sexually suggestive images of characters Asuka Langley Shikinami and Mari Illustrious Makinami.

Police investigations revealed that the men admitted to their actions when questioned by the Kanagawa Prefectural Police, stating,

"It was to supplement our living expenses."

Despite their admissions, the scale of the infringement and the sexualised nature of the artwork have raised concerns among both fans and creators in the anime industry.

Legal Battle and Copyright Infringement Concerns

In Japan, producing AI-generated content closely resembling existing works has raised significant legal questions.

The Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs has noted that such activity could potentially infringe copyright laws.

In response, the Agency announced plans to support legal fees for creators looking to challenge copyright violations.

This support would include actions like requesting content removals and securing damages claims against infringers.

Government Efforts to Tackle Piracy Through AI Systems

To combat the growing issue of AI-generated piracy, the Japanese government is developing an AI system designed to detect pirated anime and manga content.

The system will focus on learning the layouts of piracy sites and enabling rights holders to apply for the removal of detected infringing content.

This move follows criticism of Japan's initial handling of AI regulations, with OpenAI praising the country for its more relaxed approach, which led to the establishment of a new branch in Japan.

Creators and Industry Demand for Stronger AI Regulations

Amidst the controversy, prominent figures in the anime industry, including animation director Nishii Terumi, have voiced concerns about the potential exploitation of creators.

Terumi Nishii is a Japanese animator known for being the chief animation director and character designer for “JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable” by David Production.

Terumi, affiliated with the National Association of Film and Cultural Animation (NAFCA), has condemned the perceived lack of protections for creators.

NAFCA has urged for clear guidelines regarding AI usage in the industry and demanded assurances that creators will receive compensation if their work is used as training data for AI systems.