Cameo sues OpenAI over Sora’s ‘cameos’

Cameo is suing OpenAI over Sora 2’s “cameo” feature, accusing the ChatGPT maker of using the name to compete directly with its personalized celebrity video service. The trademark infringement lawsuit filed in a California federal court on Tuesday alleges that OpenAI’s usage of cameo is “highly likely to dilute and tarnish” Cameo’s branding by confusing consumers to associate it with “ersatz, hastily made AI slop and deepfakes featuring celebrities.”

The Cameo app was launched in 2017, and allows fans to commission short personalized videos or live video calls from celebrities, influencers, and other notable figures. OpenAI’s social AI video-generating app, Sora, was launched on September 30th with a “cameo” feature that lets users create a deepfake avatar of themselves that other people can use in videos. Some famous figures have willingly uploaded their likeness to the feature, but the app’s questionable safeguards have also led to the creation of nonconsensual deepfakes.

“We do not take litigation lightly. While we attempted to resolve this matter with OpenAI amicably, they refused to stop using the Cameo name for their new Sora feature,” Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said in a statement to The Verge. “To protect fans, talent, and the integrity of our marketplace, we felt that we unfortunately had no other option but to bring this lawsuit.”

In its complaint, Cameo alleges that OpenAI “intentionally selected” the cameo name for its Sora app feature to traffic on the goodwill and authentic celebrity-fan interactions that Cameo has generated since its launch. Cameo also says that various third-party websites have spawned since OpenAI launched the Sora app that focus on the video-generators cameo feature, further eroding Cameo’s brand trademark.

”We’re reviewing the complaint, but we disagree with these claims and will defend our view that no one can claim exclusive ownership over the word ‘cameo’,” OpenAI spokesperson Oscar Haines told The Verge.

Cameo is requesting an unspecified amount of monetary damages and a court order to block OpenAI from using the terms “cameo” or “cameos” in its product names.

Update, October 29th: Added a statement from OpenAI.