Cameo sues OpenAI over Sora’s ‘cameos’ in trademark row
Cameo has alleged trademark infringement over OpenAI’s use of “cameo(s)” inside the Sora app and has sought damages and an injunction; OpenAI has argued the term is generic and has denied infringement.
Cameo has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the company of using the term “cameo” inside its Sora video app in a way that has caused consumer confusion and diluted Cameo’s brand.
The complaint has been lodged in a California federal court, with the talent-video marketplace seeking damages and an injunction to stop OpenAI using the word in its products.
The filing argued that Sora’s use of “cameos” for AI-generated likenesses has overlapped with Cameo’s core service of paid, personalised videos from real celebrities.
Cameo said it has attempted to resolve the matter out of court, but claimed that OpenAI declined to change the naming.
OpenAI, led by CEO Sam Altman, said it is reviewing the complaint and has argued that no company can claim exclusive rights to the generic word “cameo.” The company disputed any likelihood of confusion.
What is Sora’s “cameo” feature?
In OpenAI’s Sora app, “cameos” are reusable characters built from a short video-and-audio capture of a user, allowing that person’s verified likeness and voice to appear in new, user-approved Sora videos.
OpenAI said users can set rules on who may use their cameo and can delete it at any time. It added that every output has carried visible watermarking and embedded C2PA provenance data, and that likeness use has been consent-based, with additional measures intended to block depictions of public figures except via the cameo system.
The dispute has arrived as hyper-realistic, user-generated video has accelerated.
Cameo requested monetary damages and a court order barring OpenAI from using “cameo(s)” in Sora or related products. OpenAI maintained its position that the term is generic; the court has yet to adjudicate the claims.