Man arrested for selling AI-colorized pirated Godzilla DVDs
A man in Osaka was arrested for using AI to colorize monochrome films including Godzilla and selling them as pirated DVDs through online marketplaces, falsely claiming they were in the public domain when many remained under copyright protection.
What happened
A male resident of Osaka Prefecture used advanced image AI to colorize monochrome films including Godzilla, then manufactured and sold the resulting DVDs as pirated copies through flea market sites and other online platforms.
The suspect marketed the colorized DVDs as restored versions of public domain works, claiming they were no longer under copyright protection. However, many of the films, including Godzilla, remained under active copyright protection at the time of sale.
Reported impact
The Content Overseas Distribution Promotion Organization (CODA) sent a cease-and-desist notice in October 2024, but the suspect continued the infringing activity.
Governance controls
CODA referred the case to the National Police Agency, which requested that Osaka Prefectural Police and Toyonaka Police Station pursue criminal charges.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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