Photo/Illutration The joint statement sent to OpenAI by 17 publishing companies (The Asahi Shimbun)

Seventeen Japanese publishing companies said they are prepared to take legal and other action against copyright infringement by a social media app that can automatically create anime characters.

The warning, issued in a joint statement released on Oct. 31, targets OpenAI’s Sora 2 app, which incorporates artificial intelligence to create videos with anime characters that appear to be genuine.

Kadokawa Corp., Kodansha Ltd. and Shogakukan Inc. were among the companies that signed the statement.

Joining the 17 publishing companies were the Association of Japanese Animations and the Japan Cartoonists Association.

The statement said approval must be obtained from the publishing companies for copyright use during the learning and generative processes by the AI app to obtain benefits from both cultural creativity and technological innovation.

The statement added that appropriate action from a “legal and ethical perspective” would be taken against copyright infringement to protect the efforts and dignity of everyone involved in the creative process.

On Oct. 28, the Content Overseas Distribution Association, which works against piracy, announced that it had submitted a request to OpenAI to stop its AI apps from learning contents from member companies without prior approval.

Shueisha Inc. and Toei Animation Co. are among the association’s member companies.

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