Man arrested for copying AI-generated images without permission
A man in Japan was referred for prosecution for copying images created with AI image generation software without permission and using them on an e-book cover he was selling. Police determined the AI-generated images qualified as copyrighted works, marking the first such copyright violation case in Japan involving AI-generated content.
What happened
On August 25, 2024, a 27-year-old unemployed man from Yamato, Kanagawa copied images created by a 27-year-old self-employed man from Abiko, Chiba using the Stable Diffusion image generation AI.
The suspect used the copied images as the cover of an e-book he was selling. The suspect stated "I copied them because they fit the title and content."
Reported impact
The creator filed a complaint with Chiba Prefectural Police in October 2024 regarding the unauthorized use of his images.
Index analysis
Chiba Prefectural Police determined the images were protected as copyrighted works because they were generated through repeated specific instructions and inputs to the AI.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.