Completed
Dark tech background with Nintendo Switch and AI controversy text.
UPDATED True JP

Nintendo Denies Lobbying Japanese Government over Generative AI Restrictions

Nintendo lobbies Japan against generative AI

Nintendo is reportedly advocating for stricter regulations on generative AI in Japan.

  • Nintendo lobbying against generative AI
  • Concern over intellectual property protection
  • Past lawsuits highlight copyright issues
  • Government initiatives on AI usage
  • Human touch remains in game creation
  • Feedback from creators is welcomed

Nintendo has formally denied claims that it lobbied the Japanese government to impose restrictions on generative artificial intelligence (AI) in game development. Representative Satoshi Asano retracted his statement and apologized for inaccurate reporting.

Politician’s Claim and Retraction

On October 3, 2025, Representative Satoshi Asano of the Democratic Party for the People posted that Nintendo “avoids using generative AI to protect its intellectual property and is engaging in lobbying activities with the government”. After Nintendo’s denial, Asano deleted his post and issued an apology for failing to verify the facts.[1][2][3]

Nintendo’s Official Statement

On October 5, 2025, Nintendo Japan declared on its verified X account:
“Nintendo has not had any contact with the Japanese government about generative AI. Whether generative AI is involved or not, we will continue to take necessary actions against infringement of our intellectual property rights.”[4][5]

Summary of Key Litigation Actions

Plaintiff Defendant Claim Date Filed Damages Sought
Yomiuri Shimbun Perplexity AI Copyright August 2025 ¥2.17 billion
Nikkei Shimbun Perplexity AI Copyright August 2025 Undisclosed
Asahi Shimbun Perplexity AI Copyright August 2025 Undisclosed
The New York Times OpenAI Copyright 2025 Undisclosed
Getty Images Stability AI Image rights 2025 Undisclosed

Government Guidance on Generative AI

In June 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released the Guidebook for Utilizing Generative AI in Content Creation, advising checks for similarity between AI outputs and existing copyrighted works.[6][7]

Developer Adoption and Concerns

A 2025 Game Developers Conference survey found 50 percent of game studios use generative AI tools, while 84 percent express concerns over copyright infringement. Some Japanese firms, including DeNA, are building AI systems trained solely on proprietary data.[7][8][9][10]

Nintendo’s Creative Philosophy

Senior executives emphasize human creativity over automation. Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser said there will always be a human touch in game design. Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto stated Nintendo prefers a creative path distinct from reliance on generative AI.[11][12][13][14]

Luca Fischer

Luca Fischer

Senior Technology Journalist

United States – New York Tech

Luca Fischer is a senior technology journalist with more than twelve years of professional experience specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics. He earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2011, where he developed a strong foundation in data science and network security before transitioning into tech media. Throughout his career, Luca has been recognized for his clear, analytical approach to explaining complex technologies. His in-depth articles explore how AI innovations, privacy frameworks, and next-generation devices impact both industry and society. Luca’s work has appeared across leading digital publications, where he delivers detailed reviews, investigative reports, and feature analyses on major players such as Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, AMD, Intel, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI. Beyond writing, he mentors young journalists entering the AI-tech field and advocates for transparent, ethical technology communication. His goal is to make the future of technology understandable and responsible for everyone.

159
Articles
1.8K
Views
26
Shares
Nintendoeverything

Nintendoeverything

Primary Source

No coverage areas yet

Nintendoeverything.com is a news and information website dedicated to all things Nintendo, providing daily updates on the company's games, consoles, and related media. It is not affiliated with the official Nintendo company and features a variety of content, including news, exclusive translations, interviews, reviews, and video content.

11
Articles
237
Views
0
Shares
Elena Voren

Elena Voren

Senior Editor

Blog Business Entertainment Sports News

Elena Voren is a senior journalist and Tech Section Editor with 8 years of experience focusing on AI ethics, social media impact, and consumer software. She is recognized for interviewing industry leaders and academic experts while clearly distinguishing opinion from evidence-based reporting. She earned her B.A. in Cognitive Science from the University of California, Berkeley (2016), where she studied human-computer interaction, AI, and digital behavior. Elena’s work emphasizes the societal implications of technology, ensuring readers understand both the practical and ethical dimensions of emerging tools. She leads the Tech Section at Faharas NET, supervising coverage on AI, consumer software, digital society, and privacy technologies, while maintaining rigorous editorial standards. Based in Berlin, Germany, Elena provides insightful analyses on technology trends, ethical AI deployment, and the influence of social platforms on modern life.

0
Articles
0
Views
0
Shares
407
Updates
Howayda Sayed

Howayda Sayed

Fact-Checking

Business Entertainment Sports News Tech

Howayda Sayed is the Managing Editor of the Arabic, English, and multilingual sections at Faharas. She leads editorial supervision, review, and quality assurance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to translation and editorial standards. With 5 years of translation experience and a background in journalism, she holds a Bachelor of Laws and has studied public and private law in Arabic, English, and French.

0
Articles
0
Views
0
Shares
157
Reviews

Editorial Timeline

Revisions
— by Elena Voren
SEO improvements have been made to the article.
— by Howayda Sayed
Included summary outlining key litigation details.
— by Howayda Sayed
Added verified legal and corporate sources.
— by Howayda Sayed
Updated and clarified the main article title.
— by Howayda Sayed
Initial publication.

Correction Record

Accountability
— by Howayda Sayed
  1. Confirm the exact filing dates and amounts in Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun lawsuits for precision.
  2. Verify the publication month of METI’s AI guidebook (June 2025) against official METI records.
  3. Cite the full GDC survey report for adoption (50 percent) and concern (84 percent) figures.
  4. Remove any remaining speculative language regarding hidden lobbying efforts.
  5. Add author credentials and last updated timestamp for Google News transparency.
  6. Include additional context on other global AI-related copyright cases, such as UK and EU actions.
  7. Ensure consistent use of “and” instead of symbols in headings.
  8. Optimize SEO with keywords: Nintendo generative AI, AI lobbying denial, intellectual property protection.
  9. Confirm Asano’s apology wording with official parliamentary records.
  10. Cross-reference executive quotes with original interview transcripts.

FAQ

Why is Nintendo lobbying against generative AI?

To protect its intellectual property rights.

How is the government responding to AI issues?

By issuing guidelines for content creation.

Who has been involved in past lawsuits?

Media companies like Yomiuri Shimbun and others.