Cameo Sues OpenAI Over “Cameo” Feature in Sora App for Trademark Infringement

Celebrity video platform Cameo has filed a lawsuit against artificial intelligence company OpenAI, alleging trademark infringement over the use of the name “Cameo” in OpenAI’s Sora video generation app. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a California federal court, claims that OpenAI’s use of the term “Cameo” to describe users’ digital likenesses on Sora creates confusion among consumers and dilutes Cameo’s established brand identity.

Founded in 2017, Cameo allows users to purchase personalized video messages from celebrities, athletes, and influencers. In contrast, OpenAI’s Sora—launched as a standalone app on September 30—enables users to create and share AI-generated videos. Within Sora, OpenAI refers to virtual user avatars as “Cameos,” a decision Cameo’s legal team calls “a blatant disregard for the obvious confusion it would create.”

Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said the company had attempted to resolve the issue “amicably,” but OpenAI declined to stop using the contested name. The lawsuit also highlights how Sora’s AI-generated videos can feature celebrity likenesses such as entrepreneur Mark Cuban and influencer Jake Paul, putting the app in direct competition with Cameo’s authentic celebrity video offerings.

An OpenAI spokesperson responded that the company is reviewing the complaint but disagrees that “anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word ‘cameo.’” However, Cameo argues that OpenAI’s branding could mislead users into believing the two platforms are connected.

The complaint seeks an unspecified amount of monetary damages and a court order prohibiting OpenAI from continuing to use the “Cameo” name. As the legal battle unfolds, the case underscores the growing tension between traditional entertainment services and AI-driven platforms reshaping how digital content—and celebrity likenesses—are created and consumed.