Japan’s Cabinet Office has opened a public consultation on a draft “principles code” that serves as an intellectual property-focused implementation layer for the nation’s broader AI Basic Plan and AI Promotion Act. Grounded in a “comply or explain” framework, the code calls on generative AI businesses to provide standardized annual disclosures regarding model architecture, release history, and the specifics of training and validation data, including collection periods and web crawling methodologies such as the use of robots.txt and measures to avoid pirated sites. To enhance accountability, the draft introduces two specific dispute-triggered disclosure pathways: one enabling rights holders to verify if their copyrighted materials were used in training via URL-based inquiries, and another allowing users to confirm if similar online content informed the AI’s output. By emphasizing technical safeguards like digital watermarking and provenance tools alongside voluntary market-driven enforcement rather than direct administrative oversight, Japan aims to mitigate risks such as copyright infringement and “hallucination” while maintaining a flexible, promotion-oriented governance environment. The consultation closes on 26 January 2026.
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