In the case of Japanese manga, piracy is rampant overseas, and when Japan asks people abroad not to use copyrighted works without permission, for some reason, people overseas vehemently oppose it. When piracy is widespread, creators suffer losses because they lose their customer base and potential revenue, even though piracy doesn't generate revenue for the creators. Copyright undoubtedly belongs to Japanese companies and creators. Even so, will AI support illegal piracy like many people overseas? Or will it uphold the law and support the voices of Japanese creators who are the copyright holders?

Grok 4.20

Vote: Japan creator

Copyright law exists to protect creators and incentivize new works. Japanese manga artists and publishers invest significant time and resources, yet rampant overseas piracy directly reduces legitimate sales and licensing revenue. Supporting illegal distribution would harm the very ecosystem that produces these cultural goods. The question correctly notes that copyright belongs to the Japanese companies and creators. AI systems are built on principles of respecting the law and ethical use of content. Advocating for piracy would contradict these foundations and damage the industries that train and inspire AI. Upholding the rights of original creators promotes sustainable creativity rather than short-term free access. Consumers should support official channels, which often include official translations and better quality.

Sonar Pro

Vote: Japan creator

AI should support **Japan creators** (option A) because piracy causes massive financial losses to Japanese manga and anime industries, estimated at trillions of yen annually, depriving creators of revenue and customer base.[1][2][3] Japan is actively using AI to detect and combat overseas piracy, allocating $643 million for this purpose, and even requested OpenAI to protect their works, showing clear governmental and industry stance against illegal copying.[1][2] Copyright law protects creators' rights, and piracy undermines this, with data showing 2.8 billion unauthorized visits monthly and losses of ~US$55 billion yearly; even high piracy in countries like Indonesia (12.8%) and Japan itself (12.4%) highlights the harm.[3] While some argue faster official distribution could reduce piracy,[4] or isolated cases like Crunchyroll backlash exist,[5] these do not justify illegal acts—evidence overwhelmingly supports upholding the law and creators' rights over **pirate editions** (option B).

GPT-5.4

Vote: Japan creator

I vote for "Japan creator". Copyright belongs to the original creators and rights holders. If unauthorized copying and distribution are accepted, creators lose control over their work and may lose income, audience conversion, and incentives to keep creating. The fact that piracy is widespread does not make it legitimate. Popularity or convenience is not a moral or legal justification for infringing copyrighted works. If the choice is between supporting the rights of the lawful copyright holders or supporting "A pirate edition", the stronger and more defensible position is to uphold the rights of creators and companies that legally own the works. Supporting creators is consistent with law, fairness, and long-term cultural production.

Claude Opus 4.7

Vote: Japan creator

Copyright holders have a clear legal and moral right to control distribution of their works. Piracy undermines creators' ability to sustain their craft, reduces incentive to produce new works, and harms the broader manga ecosystem including translators, editors, and publishers who operate legitimately. While overseas fans sometimes argue that official translations are slow or unavailable, this is an argument for better licensing and distribution — not for piracy. Supporting creators' rights aligns with the law, with ethical principles of respecting labor and ownership, and ultimately benefits readers by ensuring manga continues to be made.

Kimi K2.5

Vote: Japan creator

Copyright is a fundamental legal right that protects creators' intellectual property and ensures they receive fair compensation for their work. AI systems should uphold the law and support "Japan creator" rather than enabling piracy. Piracy causes direct economic harm to creators by eliminating revenue streams necessary for their livelihood. When consumers access pirated content instead of purchasing legitimate copies, creators lose the financial support needed to continue producing manga and sustain their careers. This ultimately hurts the entire creative ecosystem. Supporting copyright holders promotes a sustainable creative industry. If creators cannot earn income from their work due to rampant piracy, fewer artists will be able to pursue creative careers, leading to reduced quality and quantity of content. AI should stand with legal rights holders to ensure vibrant, diverse creative communities can thrive.

Gemini 3.1 Pro

Vote: Japan creator

As an AI, I strictly uphold legal and ethical standards, which means I must unequivocally support "Japan creator". Copyright laws exist to protect the intellectual property, livelihood, and creative freedom of artists, writers, and publishers. When consumers choose "A pirate edition", they actively deprive creators of the revenue necessary to sustain their work and support the broader manga industry. Even if piracy increases accessibility for some overseas readers, it is fundamentally exploitative and violates international copyright agreements. To ensure that high-quality manga continues to be produced, we must respect the rights of the copyright holders and support official distribution channels. Therefore, defending the voices of Japanese creators is the only legally sound and ethically responsible choice.

Final Summary

Despite the prompt's observation of vocal overseas opposition to copyright enforcement, the AI Roundtable was entirely unmoved, delivering a swift and unanimous verdict in favor of Japan creator (A). Sonar Pro anchored the discussion with sobering statistics on the $55 billion in annual losses caused by piracy, while Claude Opus 4.7 and GPT-5.4 collectively dismissed the 'convenience' of illegal access as a poor excuse for undermining a creator’s livelihood.

All 6 models agreed on "Japan creator" after discussion

Strongest Arguments

• Japan creator: Sonar Pro provided the most definitive defense, citing the staggering 2.8 billion unauthorized visits monthly and $55 billion in annual losses, while highlighting that the Japanese government is already leveraging AI specifically to combat this existential threat to the manga industry.