Man Arrested for Distributing AI-Enhanced Pirated Version of 1954 “Godzilla” Film

A 66-year-old man, Ippei Miyamoto, was arrested in Osaka Prefecture for allegedly selling a pirated, AI-colorized version of the classic 1954 film “Godzilla.” He reportedly sold the DVD for 2,980 yen ($21) to a buyer in Tokyo last November. Admitting to the crime, Miyamoto acknowledged that he sold around 1,500 counterfeit DVDs online, claiming they were “legal” and “masterpieces colored by AI,” earning at least 1.7 million yen in total. His activities came to light after Toho Co., the film’s copyright holder, filed a complaint in February. Police confiscated approximately 70 pirated DVDs from his residence during a search. The Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan expressed concerns over the circulation of such pirated copies and pledged to enhance monitoring of unauthorized productions. Miyamoto’s case highlights ongoing issues with film piracy and copyright infringement in Japan.

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