An emerging trend in Japan has caused concern among copyright owners as individuals have started modifying mass-produced figurines into bespoke art pieces without permission. The modifications, usually made to mirror popular anime and manga characters, have sparked debates surrounding the boundaries between tribute art and copyright infringement. Though no legal actions have been taken yet, the issue has given rise to an alarm among manufacturers, creators, and the cosplay industry.

Copyright law in Japan is stringent, and modifying a product to mirror a copyrighted character could lead to infringement issues. The trend shows a strong influence of pop culture in Japan, especially anime and manga, reflecting the country's robust creative industry. However, it also exposes the potential hazards of unregulated fan-created tributes.

In the US and EU, copyright laws also strictly protect original work. However, the specifics of the law may allow some leeway for modifications under terms like "fair use" or "parody". The impact this Japanese trend could have on legal discussions in these countries remains to be seen.