OpenAI has quietly renamed a core feature in its Sora video app following legal pressure from celebrity video platform Cameo. The AI company’s self-deepfaking tool, which allows users to create digital versions of themselves for AI-generated videos, is now labeled as “characters” instead of “cameo” within the application.
Trademark Infringement Leads to Court Order
US District Judge Eumi K. Lee issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting OpenAI from using the term “cameo” or similar variations for its feature. The ruling came after Cameo, the established platform where users pay celebrities for personalized video messages, filed a trademark infringement lawsuit. According to court documents, OpenAI waited over a week after the judge’s order before implementing the name change in its app.
Steven Galanis, Cameo’s CEO, expressed frustration over what he perceives as deliberate trademark infringement. “They clearly knew Cameo existed. They knew we had trademarks on it,” Galanis stated in an interview. He characterized the dispute as an “existential” battle for his company’s brand identity, which he has built over eight years.
Galanis further claimed that OpenAI’s use of the term was already negatively impacting Cameo’s search engine visibility, referring to the AI company’s feature as “AI slop” that dilutes his brand’s association with “authentic personalized connections.”
OpenAI’s Response and Implementation Timeline
OpenAI has contested the lawsuit’s premise, with a spokesperson stating: “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.”
When questioned about the delay in removing the name from the Sora app, OpenAI representatives indicated they were “taking steps to comply” with the court order. The company pointed to language in their opposition brief suggesting it might require “up to three” weeks to implement such changes after selecting a new feature name.
The next court hearing, which could determine whether the naming prohibition becomes permanent, is scheduled for December 19.
Sora’s Rise to Popularity
Before the legal controversy, Sora quickly ascended to the top of Apple’s iOS download charts. The app features a TikTok-style feed where users share AI-generated videos, with the self-deepfaking capability (formerly known as “cameo”) serving as its standout attraction. This feature enables users to create personalized deepfake videos featuring digital representations of themselves.
A Pattern of Naming Issues
This isn’t OpenAI’s first naming controversy. The company was recently ordered to abandon plans to call its upcoming hardware device “io” following legal action from a company named “iyO” that is developing its own AI hardware product.
Critics have drawn parallels between these naming issues and the fundamental nature of generative AI technology. As systems built to identify and replicate patterns from existing datasets, these tools excel at producing derivative content rather than true creative originality. Some observers suggest OpenAI’s naming challenges reflect this same limitation—an inability to develop truly novel, distinctive branding that doesn’t overlap with existing trademarks.
Broader Implications for AI Companies
The dispute highlights growing tensions as AI companies rapidly develop and launch new products in a competitive market. Traditional intellectual property frameworks are increasingly being tested as AI firms introduce features that may inadvertently—or deliberately—infringe on established brands.
For companies like OpenAI, these legal challenges represent more than mere inconvenience. They potentially disrupt product launches, force expensive rebranding efforts, and damage consumer recognition. The situation demonstrates that even as AI technology pushes boundaries in content creation, companies must still navigate traditional business challenges like trademark compliance and brand differentiation.
As the December court date approaches, both companies remain firmly entrenched in their positions—Cameo defending its brand identity built over nearly a decade, and OpenAI maintaining that common English words cannot be exclusively claimed through trademark.