U.S. court bars OpenAI from using Cameo name

A federal district court in Northern California has ordered OpenAI to stop using the name “Cameo” in its artificial intelligence products, handing a significant legal victory to the celebrity video message platform Cameo. The ruling, filed Saturday, concluded that OpenAI’s use of the trademarked name in its Sora 2 video generation app was likely to cause consumer confusion.

OpenAI had been using “Cameo” to describe a feature within Sora 2 that allowed users to insert digital likenesses of themselves into AI-generated videos. However, the court rejected OpenAI’s argument that the term was merely descriptive, stating instead that “it suggests rather than describes the feature.”

Court Rules Against OpenAI in Cameo Trademark Dispute

The Saturday ruling represents an escalation from a temporary restraining order the court granted to Cameo in November. Following that initial order, OpenAI quickly renamed the contested feature to “Characters” in an effort to comply with judicial directives. However, the latest decision solidifies the platform’s obligation to avoid the trademark going forward.

According to the court, the similarity between OpenAI’s feature name and Cameo’s established brand was significant enough to create marketplace confusion. This finding underscores the strength of Cameo’s trademark protection for the celebrity personalized video service it has operated for nearly a decade.

Cameo CEO Celebrates Brand Protection Victory

Steven Galanis, CEO of Cameo, emphasized the importance of the ruling for his company and the creator economy. “We have spent nearly a decade building a brand that stands for talent-friendly interactions and genuine connection,” Galanis said in a statement. He added that every interaction on the platform serves as marketing for future engagements.

Galanis further stressed that the decision protects not only Cameo’s corporate interests but also the thousands of creators who rely on the platform’s reputation. “We will continue to vigorously defend our intellectual property against any platform that attempts to trade on the goodwill and recognition we have worked so hard to establish,” the CEO noted.

OpenAI Disputes Exclusive Ownership Claims

In response to the court’s decision, an OpenAI spokesperson expressed disagreement with the fundamental premise of the lawsuit. “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,” the spokesperson told Reuters. The statement suggests OpenAI may pursue further legal challenges to the ruling.

Meanwhile, this case represents just one of several intellectual property battles facing the artificial intelligence company. Earlier this month, OpenAI abandoned “IO” branding for its upcoming hardware products, according to court documents obtained by WIRED. Additionally, digital library application OverDrive filed suit against OpenAI in November over its use of “Sora” for the video generation app at the center of the Cameo dispute.

Growing Legal Challenges for AI Company

The trademark conflicts are compounded by broader copyright disputes involving OpenAI. The company faces legal action from various artists, creatives, and media organizations across multiple jurisdictions regarding alleged copyright violations in training its AI models. In November, a court ruled that OpenAI violated German copyright law and ordered the company to pay damages.

These mounting legal challenges highlight the increasingly complex intellectual property landscape facing AI companies as they develop new features and products. The intersection of established trademark rights and emerging AI applications continues to generate friction in courtrooms worldwide.

OpenAI has not indicated whether it will appeal the Cameo trademark ruling or pursue alternative legal strategies. The company’s next steps in this particular dispute remain uncertain as both parties await potential further proceedings.