Sexy AI Anime Fan Art: When Copyright Infringement Becomes a Million Yen Business

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Summary

  • Divided opinions on AI in anime production: saves time & money but takes away creativity.
  • AI use for copyright infringement frowned upon: Two men in Japan caught selling AI-generated sexy anime posters.
  • Doujinshi legal because of small profits, unlike AI art: Lessons for copyright violators on consequences.

In today’s world, including the field of Anime, there is a significant divide in opinions over the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Majorly, people express concerns about AI’s integration into anime creation, believing it diminishes creativity and displaces human artists from their jobs. Conversely, some argue that AI can reduce time and costs associated with anime production, and moreover, enable independent artists to handle larger projects on their own.

Regardless of your stance on AI, one thing everyone agrees on is that AI should not be used for copyright violation. There are ongoing discussions about how AI learns and creates by using the work of others, sometimes combining multiple artists’ works into a single piece. But when it comes to directly copying existing characters, this undeniably crosses the line into copyright infringement. In recent news, two Japanese individuals were caught using AI-generated images to sell posters featuring characters from existing anime series online.

AI Art Declared Copyright Infringement

Perpetrators Plead Guilty

In Japan, two individuals, aged 36 and 40, are currently under investigation for allegedly breaching copyright laws. These men were apprehended by the “cyber patrol,” an online crime-fighting unit of the Japanese police. This team is known for pursuing offenses such as copyright violations and internet piracy, and can prosecute Japanese citizens suspected of committing cybercrimes.

Two individuals have been convicted for designing and marketing risqué renditions of popular anime characters from the 80s and 90s, utilizing an AI tool. Characters like Asuka and Mari from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Dark Magician Girl from Yu-Gi-Oh!, Yuri from Dirty Pair, and Nanako from Amazing Nurse Nanako were among those depicted. While some of these shows are widely recognized, others are less well-known. Regardless, they all originated in the 80s and 90s, suggesting that the creators aimed to cater to a specific demographic of older anime enthusiasts, filling a gap in the fan base’s demand for such content.

Two men admitted guilt for their involvement in copyright violations. One of them, aged 36, earned approximately 10 million yen (around USD 63,700) from sales made between May 2023 and March 2024. The other individual, who is 40 years old, generated roughly 5.7 million yen (approximately USD 36,700) in revenue from July 2023 to April 2024. It remains uncertain if the two were operating as partners or merely independent sellers found guilty of the same offense due to their online presence at the same location.

Why is Some Fan Art Okay?

When is it Copyright Infringement?

As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t help but share my excitement about the thriving market for fan-created comics and manga in Japan, known as doujinshi. Unlike those two men who faced copyright infringement charges for exploiting licensed characters they didn’t own, these fan-made works are based on existing series and characters. You can find them in stores like K-Books, MelonBooks, and more, all across the country. The icing on the cake? There’s a massive event called Comiket that happens twice a year, drawing tens of thousands of people together to buy, sell, and celebrate doujinshi!

Pondering over this intriguing topic, it seems that the legality of doujinshi contrasts sharply with the status of men’s erotic AI fanart due to the significant financial aspects involved. As I delve deeper into the discussion, Casey Baseel from SoraNews24 sheds light on this subject matter.

Publisher and law enforcement entities generally look the other way when fan artists sell their works in small quantities at physical events, believing this encourages fan engagement and artist growth without significantly affecting the financial success of the original work. Moreover, it’s argued that the money made by these fan artists primarily goes towards covering their costs associated with creating their artwork. However, it becomes challenging to maintain the stance of merely recouping expenses while refining skills and spreading enthusiasm when such artists are earning millions of yen without producing a single stroke of what they’re selling.

In essence, Doujinshi artists seldom detract from the income of anime and manga series through their sales; instead, they might stimulate it by sparking fan interest in other series via their artwork. Moreover, Doujinshi serves as a platform for honing drawing and writing skills, which can foster budding mangaka who may eventually introduce unique narratives to the field. However, two individuals merely inputting prompts into AI generators and earning profits without contributing creatively was not an acceptable practice that the anime community could overlook.

The decision regarding the penalties for individuals profiting off copyrighted content, particularly popular anime characters, has not been announced yet, but it’s expected to be a significant fine as a minimum. Using AI to create artwork featuring licensed characters is considered a copyright violation in Japan, making it illegal. This revelation might discourage others from attempting similar activities, especially on such a grand scale as these two individuals. If fans are interested in purchasing risqué art of their preferred anime characters, they will have to resort to legitimate channels or smaller doujinshi artists instead.

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2025-01-30 08:24