Lawsuit Filed Over Unauthorized Use of Similar AI-Generated Hair Model Images: Attention Focused on Judicial Decision on Copyright of AI Images

WISECODE Take

On September 8, 2026, Japanese company Sai filed a lawsuit in the Osaka District Court against a Chiba beauty salon over unauthorized use of its AI-generated hair model images. This lawsuit is not a simple copyright dispute, but a critical battle over how the judiciary defines whether AI-generated works are eligible for copyright protection. The plaintiff, selling AI images from 1,100 to over 20,000 yen each, accused the defendant of using 240 images without authorization between December 2025 and May 2026 through image-to-image AI processing for ads. The defendant countersued in the Tokyo District Court, arguing AI outputs are not human creations and thus lack copyright protection. This case highlights a real risk for businesses: materials generated purely by prompts may not prevent competitors from copying or processing them. Businesses that do not use AI or only use it as an assistant are unaffected. Chiden's AI IP compliance consulting helps businesses assess legal risks of generated content. To address this, I suggest two actions. First, keep complete records of prompt histories and manual editing by human designers to prove substantial human creative effort. Second, clearly define AI tool usage ratios and liability for infringement in outsourcing contracts.