A US federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing OpenAI from using the term “cameo” in its Sora video app, marking a significant early win for celebrity video platform Cameo in its ongoing trademark dispute. The ruling, reported by CNBC, restricts OpenAI from using the word “cameo” or similar variations in any Sora features until 22 December, while the case continues.
Legal action over trademark use
The dispute began in October when Cameo filed a lawsuit claiming that OpenAI’s use of the term “cameo” inside Sora was likely to confuse consumers and weaken its established brand. Cameo argued that OpenAI’s use of language associated with its service could mislead users into thinking the companies were connected.
Before taking the matter to court, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said the company attempted to resolve the issue informally. According to Galanis, Cameo approached OpenAI to settle the disagreement “amicably,” but OpenAI declined to stop using the name, prompting the lawsuit.
Cameo’s core business allows customers to purchase short personalised videos recorded by celebrities. The company argued that Sora’s use of a feature titled “cameo” risked creating false associations, particularly because the feature allowed users to upload their likeness for use in AI-generated videos made by others.
Court ruling and reactions
On Monday, US District Judge Eumi K. Lee granted Cameo a temporary restraining order, blocking OpenAI from using the terms “cameo”, “Kameo”, or “CameoVideo” within Sora until the next hearing. The judge’s order aims to prevent potential consumer confusion during the legal process.
Following the ruling, Galanis told CNBC: “We are gratified by the court’s decision, which recognises the need to protect consumers from the confusion that OpenAI has created by using the Cameo trademark. While the court’s order is temporary, we hope that OpenAI will agree to stop using our mark permanently to avoid any further harm to the public or Cameo.”
OpenAI, however, rejected Cameo’s claims. A spokesperson told Engadget: “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.”
Next steps in the legal process
Judge Lee has set 19 December as the date for the next hearing, where the court will decide whether the temporary order should be extended or made permanent. Until then, OpenAI must remove all references to the restricted terms from Sora’s features.
The outcome of the upcoming hearing could shape how tech companies label emerging AI tools, particularly as more firms introduce features that blend user likeness, personal branding, and generative content.
