Studio Ghibli, ChatGPT, and AI: A New Debate on Copyright

Although these images may be considered “new” from a technical standpoint, their similarity to frames from iconic films of the Japanese studio is undeniable. This is where the controversy arises: while copyright protects original works and not necessarily artistic styles, the key question is how the artificial intelligence learned that distinctive style. Is it merely inspiration, or are we dealing with a possible infringement?

Drawing inspiration from a style does not in itself constitute infringement. However, the line between homage and infringement becomes blurred when the final result is almost indistinguishable from a protected work. The current capabilities of AI allow it to replicate aesthetic patterns with such precision that the generated content can often be perceived as a disguised reproduction.
This scenario raises key questions: Should AI development companies have express authorization to train their models using copyrighted works? Current practice shows that many companies use millions of images, texts, and artistic works protected by copyright as part of their training datasets, without seeking permission or offering compensation to the authors. This practice has led to numerous lawsuits in the United States and Europe for the misuse of protected content.

Given these challenges, it is evident that technological advancement has outpaced the capacity of existing legal frameworks. An urgent legal update is required to address new forms of automated content creation, establishing clear boundaries and protection mechanisms for authors and creators in the age of artificial intelligence.

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At Quevedo & Ponce, we provide specialized intellectual property advice to creators, companies, and entrepreneurs. We help you protect your copyrights, register your works, manage licenses, and defend your creations against unauthorized use.

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