Celebrity video platform Cameo has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the artificial intelligence company of misusing its brand name in Sora's new "Cameo" video feature.
The case was filed Tuesday in a California federal court and claims that OpenAI's use of the name is likely to confuse users and damage Cameo's reputation.
According to the complaint, OpenAI's Sora app — launched as a standalone product on September 30 — lets users create and share AI-generated videos using digital likenesses, Reuters reported.
Within the app, OpenAI refers to these user avatars as "Cameos."
Cameo argues that this choice of name infringes on its trademark rights and could mislead people into thinking the two companies are connected.
Cameo's CEO, Steven Galanis, said the company tried to resolve the issue before filing the lawsuit.
"We attempted to handle this amicably, but OpenAI refused to stop using the Cameo name,"
Galanis said in a statement. He added that the company had no choice but to take legal action to protect its brand and business model.
Celebrity video shoutout app Cameo sues OpenAI for trademark infringement, alleging Sora's "cameo" feature is likely to cause confusion and dilute its brand (@blakebrittain / Reuters)https://t.co/AKEK6k1qEmhttps://t.co/zHIevX2KPu
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Cameo Sues OpenAI Over Name Use
Founded in 2017, Cameo became popular for allowing fans to purchase short, personalized video messages from celebrities, athletes, and influencers.
The platform features stars ranging from musicians and actors to online personalities.
In contrast, OpenAI's Sora gives users the ability to create realistic AI videos, including virtual representations of famous people.
Cameo argues that this overlap directly threatens its business.
According to NewsBytes, the lawsuit claims that users now face two options: "Use Cameo's platform to book talent and receive an authentic, custom video prepared by that celebrity, or use Sora's 'Cameo' service to create an extremely realistic AI-generated video featuring a celebrity's likeness."
The filing warns that this could create significant confusion among consumers and blur the line between real and AI-generated content.
Cameo also points out that Sora includes AI-generated celebrity appearances from figures such as Mark Cuban and Jake Paul, making OpenAI a direct competitor in the personalized video market.
The company is seeking monetary damages and a court order to block OpenAI from using the "Cameo" name.
OpenAI has not yet filed an official response but told reporters it disagrees with Cameo's claim of exclusive ownership over the word "cameo."
Originally published on vcpost.com
