The viral ChatGPT “Ghibli style” trend has sparked new debates around AI copyright implications for iconic visual styles, potentially setting significant legal precedents for creative industries. As OpenAI scrambles to block these image generation requests, legal experts suggest the situation could lead to a landmark case exploring whether AI companies can be held accountable for mimicking distinctive artistic aesthetics—pushing the boundaries of what qualifies as protected intellectual property in the AI era.
The big picture: Studio Ghibli may have legal grounds to sue OpenAI over the viral trend of AI-generated images mimicking the iconic Japanese animation studio’s distinctive style, according to former Showtime general counsel and AI expert Rob Rosenberg.
Potential legal arguments: Rosenberg suggests Studio Ghibli could pursue claims under the Lanham Act, which covers trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition.
Industry context: OpenAI already faces multiple lawsuits related to its training data practices, including a copyright lawsuit from The New York Times that recently survived a dismissal attempt.
Why this matters: The case highlights the growing tension between AI advancement and creative intellectual property as generative AI increasingly replicates distinctive artistic styles that previously required years of human skill development.