OpenAI Hit with Trademark Lawsuit, Temporarily Barred from Using ‘Cameo’

OpenAI, the AI powerhouse behind the CNBC Disruptor 50 company, faces a temporary setback in its branding strategy for its ambitious Sora AI video generation platform. A U.S. federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), preventing OpenAI from using the term “cameo,” or similar variations, in connection with Sora for at least a month.

Judge Eumi K. Lee handed down the TRO on Monday, specifically targeting the “cameo” mark and derivatives like “Kameo” or “CameoVideo” as they relate to Sora’s functionalities. This directly impacts any features within Sora that might utilize generated avatars or personalized character insertions within AI-created videos. The ruling underscores the increasing legal scrutiny surrounding AI-generated content and its potential infringement on existing trademarks.

“We disagree with the complaint’s assertion that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word ‘cameo’, and we look forward to continuing to make our case to the court,” stated an OpenAI spokesperson, signaling the company’s intent to vigorously defend its position. While the company is complying with all court orders, they argue that the term is too generic to be trademarked.

The TRO stems from a trademark infringement lawsuit filed in October by Cameo, a platform specializing in personalized celebrity videos. The lawsuit centers on Sora’s initially unveiled “Cameo” feature, which allowed users to create digital representations of themselves or others and integrate them into AI-generated video content. Cameo argues that this usage directly infringes upon their established brand and creates consumer confusion.

Cameo CEO Steven Galanis hailed the court’s decision as a win. “We are gratified by the court’s decision, which recognizes the need to protect consumers from the confusion that OpenAI has created by using the Cameo trademark,” Galanis stated, “While the court’s order is temporary, we hope that OpenAI will agree to stop using our mark permanently to avoid any further harm to the public or Cameo.” This legal battle highlights the growing tension between established brands and the rapid advancements in generative AI, particularly concerning intellectual property rights.

The temporary restraining order is slated to expire on December 22nd. A crucial hearing is scheduled for December 19th to determine whether the injunction should be extended, potentially resulting in a permanent ban on OpenAI’s use of the “cameo” mark concerning Sora, pending a full adjudication of the case. This case will no doubt be watched closely by other major tech companies working on AI, as it may provide key insight on the limits of naming AI features with already-established business names.