日本語のページはこちらです

 Signatures can be made under a name other than your real name, such as a handle.

We are Japanese creators such as individual painters, illustrators, photographers, artists, and hobbyists who create pictures and other creative works. Nowadays, the rights of our creations on the Internet are being severely threatened by AI.  Our pictures are being used without our permission by AI-generated unauthorized learning, Even if we refuse to accept the use of our pictures, the other party will not listen to us. On the contrary, we are abused and threatened by the heartless people.

 

The online community is in a state of complete lawlessness, harassment and threats by some AI artists are rampant, and in the absence of clear legal regulations, creators are losing their vitality, leaving them helpless.

We have started this petition to make the government and the whole of Japan aware of this painful situation. If this situation is left unchecked, AI painters will take away their jobs, and in the near future, there will be no creators left. If the original creators are gone, there will be no future for the AI-generated images that are generated based on them. If this situation continues, we will end up in a sad world where we will no longer be able to see the new works of our favorite creators.

Please, now is the time for you to know how painful it is for us. And please help us to return to the world where we used to be able to work safely again, even if only a little. We call on the government to create the [AI Law] as soon as possible. In order to protect the wonderful pictures and works of creators
We ask for your support.

Current State of Generated AI Images

Currently, AI image applications generate images from datasets trained by collecting images from the Internet by scraping or other means. A large number of these images are the work of unauthorized creators who have not obtained permission from the original creators.

• AI-generated images without permission from the creators of the training source
  →There have been malicious cases of people using the works of others without permission, pretending to be the creators themselves on the Internet, and improperly earning income from their work.

 

• Gravure and pornography created by deep faking
  →A controversial photogravure book that closely resembles an actual celebrity was published without permission, and sales of the book were suspended...
  Shueisha ends sales of AI gravure "Satsukiai" photo book, opinions after its release... The company did not adequately consider various issues and problems" (Yahoo News)
  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/f168e1bbd0f0c1f6d8295441abe5d1bfe2115f33　
  
  →If AI generation is not regulated by law as it is, anyone can create pornographic images from someone else's photos without permission, and there is a possibility that many crimes will be committed by abusing this technology.
  FBI warns of rising "sextortion", extortion using AI's image-generating capabilities (Yahoo News)
  https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/ohmototakashi/20230607-00352776

 

This is a major problem not only in Japan, but there are now calls for stricter regulations around the world. While Europe, China, Australia, the EU, and other countries are calling for regulations, this problem is still trivialized and not even fully recognized in Japan. In the worst case scenario, if this situation continues, Japan will be recognized by the world as a dangerous country with no sense of ethics or morals, and may even be isolated from the rest of the world.

 

 

 

Currently, the illustration industry is the most affected, but if left unchecked, it could cause enormous damage to other industries as well.

Furthermore, it is not only a problem for creators, but if it is misused for crime, the general public will surely be affected as well. We must do everything in our power to prevent a future in which fake pornography of our own family members or children is circulated.

↓You can see the details of the actual damage to creators in the results of the survey on this website.

Sponsored by Japan Performing Arts Workers Association
Questionnaire on the actual condition of all creators 10 AI literacy (aggregate results)
~All creators' survey on AI literacy~.
https://artsworkers.jp/news/20230608news/
*Caution is advised to view this site as it contains some malicious and quite terrible content.

Specific Issues

• There is currently no system or legal regulation that allows the creators of AI training sources (individuals in the case of deep fakes) to refuse to learn their own work.
  → Therefore, pictures and photos are used without permission.
  
  
• The creators of pictures and photos used without permission for AI learning do not receive a penny of income. However, AI creators who created and sold AI products through unauthorized learning can earn an income.
  → There should be a law that makes it mandatory for creators to obtain a license to use their creations so that they can earn income from their creations.

Creators are suffering because their creations, which they have worked so hard to create, are used without their permission. Creators are suffering because their creations, which they have worked so hard to create, are used without permission, and their motivation to create is severely diminished.

This is especially true for illustrators who spend much of their time drawing pictures. The new arrivals section of illustration community sites is flooded with AI illustrations, and hand-drawn illustrations cannot compete. In addition, many creators are keeping their works private due to concerns about unauthorized AI learning.

If this situation continues, creators will be increasingly frustrated by the fact that their work is used without their permission and that they lose their jobs, and the number of traditional creators who create works from scratch will decrease.　AI-generated artwork will soon become stagnant, and the industry as a whole may become stagnant because it can only produce similar artwork, and no new artwork will be created.

In the meantime, illegal AI images are spreading and the damage is growing.

 

 

 

The fruits of the efforts of painters who have worked hard and built up their skills over the years are now being trampled on unfairly.

In order to prevent further damage, legal restrictions are needed as soon as possible. Under the current copyright law, it is allowed to use other people's works for AI learning without permission. Even if you use someone's picture without permission, you will not be punished for that alone. People who have neither manners nor morals take advantage of this fact and make AI learn other people's works as they like.

What kind of legislation is needed?

We would like to see a new AI law, separate from the copyright law, to protect the rights of copyright holders from AI.

• Laws that properly protect the rights of authors who refuse to learn AI and punish violators who use it without permission.
  
  
• Laws that require permission for AI learning and penalize unauthorized AI learning.
  
  
• Laws prohibiting the sale, resale, etc. for a fee with respect to unauthorized AI learning products.
  
  
• The law requires the makers of AI image creation software or the AI creators of unauthorized AI learning products to clearly identify the products as AI products and to insert credits.
  
  
• Laws that make AI products non-custodial rather than custodial.
  
  
• Mandatory disclosure of source datasets for AI training
  
  
• Obligate manufacturers of AI image creation software to develop a mechanism to link products with users.
  
  
• Moral rights, right of identity preservation exception #3, modification of the "work of the program" section (to prohibit LoRAi2i and others from learning without permission).

 

 

 

Please support this campaign to bring about legislation that protects the rights of real creators as soon as possible. Please spread the word that this movement exists so that it reaches as many people as possible.

Thank you very much.
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Statement on Generated AI by Domestic Organizations

Japan Association of Performing Arts Professionals
Statement of Solidarity with the Japan Association of Performing Arts Professionals on the Rapid Emergence of AI
https://artsworkers.jp/news/ai-statement-202305/

Japan Actors' Equity Association
Proposal on the Use of Generative AI Technology"
https://www.nippairen.com/about/post-14576.html

The Federation of Copyrighted Music Authors' Associations of Japan (FCA)
FCA's Position on the Use of Copyrighted Works by AI
https://fca-rights.jp/

Japan Newspaper Publishers Association
Concerns about unauthorized and unregulated use of copyrighted works.
https://www.pressnet.or.jp/news/headline/230517_15029.html

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A similar signature drive is currently underway in Europe with many supporters.
European petition "Protect our art and data from AI companies"
https://chng.it/FCCrZBHv