Japanese media say AI research infringes copyright, urge legal reform

Japanese media, represented by the Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association, have raised concerns about AI-powered search engines from U.S. tech giants like Google and Microsoft potentially infringing on copyright laws. They argue that these AI search engines often display search responses that resemble articles without proper permission, leading to copyright violations. The association called for companies to obtain consent from news organizations before using their content. Additionally, they urged the Japanese government to review and update intellectual property laws promptly. The concern extends to the accuracy of information provided by AI search engines, highlighting the risk of misinformation and its impact on news organizations' credibility. The association also warned about the negative effects of "zero-click searches" on news traffic and emphasized the importance of respecting copyrights to avoid antimonopoly law violations. Google responded by stating its compliance with Japan's copyright laws and its efforts to maintain good relationships with Japanese news outlets.