The Japanese government has made a surprise decision that it will not apply copyright laws to data used to train artificial intelligence.
The policy allows AI to use any data “regardless of whether it is for non-commercial or commercial purposes, whether it is an act other than reproduction, or whether it is content obtained from illegal sites or otherwise.
Keiko Nagaoka, Japan’s minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, reiterated a bold stance at a local meeting, stating that Japanese laws will not protect copyright material used in AI datasets.
Japan, AI and copyright
The Japanese government seems to believe that copyright issues, especially related to anime and other visual media, have stalled the country’s progress in AI technology. In response, Japan is going all out, opting for a copyright-free approach to remain competitive.
The news is part of Japan’s ambitious plan to become a leader in AI technology. Rapidus, a local technology company known for its advanced 2nm chip technology, is coming to the fore as a serious contender in the world of AI chips. Given the unstable political situation in Taiwan, Japanese chip manufacturing may be a safer bet. Japan is also stepping up its efforts to form global rules for AI systems within the G-7.
