In October 2025, a Japanese trade group called CODA — whose members include Studio Ghibli and its parent company Nippon TV — formally demanded that OpenAI stop using Japanese creative content to train its AI video generator, Sora 2. The letter said CODA had confirmed that Sora 2 was producing videos that closely resembled Japanese content, and argued this was only possible if that content had been used as training data without permission. This was a collective industry action, not a standalone Ghibli initiative.

CODA (Content Overseas Distribution Association) sent its letter to OpenAI on October 27, 2025, shortly after Sora 2 launched on October 1. The letter made two demands: that OpenAI stop using member content for AI training without prior permission, and that OpenAI respond substantively to copyright infringement claims. The coalition included approximately 30 members: Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Aniplex, Kadokawa, Toei, Toho, NHK, Nippon Television Network (Ghibli's parent), and others — in addition to Ghibli. CODA argued that Japanese copyright law requires prior permission before using works as training data, and that no opt-out mechanism substitutes for that consent. OpenAI did not publicly respond to the letter. Because this was a multi-member coalition action, attributing it solely to Studio Ghibli would be misleading; Ghibli's participation reflects at minimum passive endorsement of the coalition's position.