This is just bullshit. I don't care that much about the whole Ghibli AI filters, but they are really stretching the current copyright system with this. The only thing that Gib Studio could be violating is trademark law by calling it Gib, but everything else is wrong.
1. You cannot copyright or patent an art-style.
2. The AI is only using Studio Ghibli's work as a reference while also using a real life photo to create a drawing. It's like if I took a photo and drew a cartoon version of it in Butch Hartman's style and used Fairly Odd Parents screenshots as references.
3. People are mostly using the tool to share images on social media. They aren't doing anything for commercial purposes. It's no different than people who draw pictures of themselves in the Powerpuff Girls art-style for example.
4. People aren't stupid enough to believe that Studio Ghibli would endorse something because something is drawn in it's artstyle. People have been drawing offensive memes using various works and they almost never harm the reputation of the original creators...unless you are Ben Garrison.
@xianc78 this shit is gay and with this C&D they officially lost the culture war to AI of all things
the trend was already starting to die down, ffs
@tomie @xianc78 the problem is, this letter is fake.
Author of this letter says it is fake.
It is added to the OP that this letter is fake: https://x.com/tj_littlejohn/status/1905458426110419387