Japan has reportedly asked the US to stop using Mario, Pokemon, and others in social media posts
It's not just about the sanctity of copyright law anymore—Japan's foreign ministry is apparently worried that the US government is damaging the brands.
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reportedly requested the US government to cease using images from Japanese video games, such as Mario and Pokémon, in social media posts. This demand stems from concerns about both the unauthorized use of intellectual property and the potential damage to globally recognized brands. These requests have been made multiple times, with the Ministry specifically urging the Trump Administration to halt the practice.
While copyright law is a concern, the ministry also highlighted the negative impact these posts can have on the brands' reputations when used for political purposes. The use of such content in US government communications has been criticized in the past, with the Pokémon Company expressing dissatisfaction when its intellectual property was used in promotional material.
However, the extent to which the Trump Administration or other US agencies will adhere to these requests is yet to be determined.
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