Cameo, the popular app that lets you buy personalized video messages from celebrities, has sued OpenAI. The lawsuit claims OpenAI’s new TikTok-like Sora app uses a feature called “Cameo,” which directly infringes on the celebrity video app’s registered trademark. Cameo argues that OpenAI’s use of the name will confuse customers and harm its brand.
“OpenAI knowingly took our well-known, federally protected trademark,” the complaint states. It adds that OpenAI ignored “the clear risk of consumer confusion” and the “irreparable harm” it would cause to Cameo’s brand and trademark rights.
OpenAI is reviewing the complaint. A spokesperson told Reuters that the company “disagrees that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word ‘cameo.'” However, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said his company tried to settle the issue peacefully, but OpenAI refused to stop using the name.
The original Cameo app lets users pick from a roster of celebrities, including Jon Gruden, Lisa Vanderpump, and Colin Mochrie. These stars then create short, custom videos for fans. Prices for these unique videos typically range from about $30 to $600.
Meanwhile, OpenAI’s Sora app uses its Sora 2 video-generation technology to create and share videos. The app quickly gained attention not just for its “Cameo” feature, but also for possibly using unauthorized anime, images of deceased celebrities, and other protected content.
Cameo’s lawsuit highlights a major concern: OpenAI’s “Cameo” service offers deepfake likenesses of celebrities such as Mark Cuban and Jake Paul. This means users looking for a personalized celebrity video could either go to the original Cameo app for a real video from a real star, or use Sora’s “Cameo” service to create an extremely lifelike AI-generated video featuring a celebrity’s image. This creates a direct conflict and potential for misunderstanding among consumers.
