Celebrity Video Platform Cameo Wins Trademark Battle Against OpenAI
A recent ruling by a federal district court in Northern California has favored Cameo, a popular platform that enables users to receive personalized video messages from celebrities. The court has instructed OpenAI to cease using the term “Cameo” in its products and features.
OpenAI had been utilizing the name “Cameo” for its AI-powered video generation application, Sora 2. Through this feature, users could incorporate digital representations of themselves into AI-generated videos. However, the court determined that the similarity in names could lead to user confusion. OpenAI’s argument that “Cameo” was merely descriptive was rejected, with the court stating that the term “suggested rather than described the feature.”
In response to a temporary restraining order granted to Cameo in November, OpenAI rebranded the feature as “Characters.” This move came after the court prohibited the use of the “Cameo” name by the AI company.
Steven Galanis, CEO of Cameo, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, emphasizing the company’s dedication to fostering talent-friendly interactions and genuine connections. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of their marketplace and protecting the thousands of creators who rely on the Cameo brand.
An OpenAI spokesperson contested the complaint’s assertion that exclusive ownership of the term “cameo” could be claimed. The company remains committed to presenting its case in light of the ruling.
OpenAI has recently been embroiled in various intellectual property disputes. In addition to the trademark battle over the use of “Cameo,” the company abandoned the “IO” branding for its upcoming hardware products following legal proceedings. OpenAI also faced a lawsuit from digital library app OverDrive for using the name “Sora” in its video generation app. Furthermore, the company is engaged in legal conflicts with numerous artists, creatives, and media organizations across different regions over alleged copyright infringements.
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