US court orders OpenAI to stop using the name “Cameo”

A federal district court in Northern California has ruled in favor of Cameo – the platform that lets users order personalized video greetings from celebrities – and ordered OpenAI to stop using the name Cameo in its products and features.

OpenAI had used the name Cameo for a feature in its AI-powered video generation app Sora 2. This feature allowed users to insert digital avatars of themselves into generated videos. In the court ruling issued on Saturday, the judge found the name too similar, causing potential confusion among users. The court also rejected OpenAI’s argument that Cameo was merely descriptive, stating that it “more suggests a feature than directly describes it.”

Back in November, the court granted Cameo’s motion for a preliminary injunction, temporarily barring OpenAI from using the name. Following that, OpenAI renamed the feature to Characters.

“We have spent nearly a decade building a brand associated with talent-friendly engagement and genuine connection, and we like to say that every Cameo is an advertisement for the next,” said Cameo’s CEO Steven Galanis.

He described the ruling as a significant win not only for the company but for the entire platform ecosystem and thousands of creators who trust the Cameo brand. Galanis emphasized that the company will continue to vigorously protect its intellectual property against any platforms attempting to leverage its reputation and recognition.

Meanwhile, an OpenAI spokesperson told Reuters that the company disagrees with the claim of exclusive rights to the word Cameo and intends to keep defending its position.

In recent months, OpenAI has been embroiled in multiple intellectual property disputes. Earlier this month, it was revealed in court documents obtained by WIRED that the company dropped the IO branding for its upcoming hardware products. In November, digital library app OverDrive sued OpenAI over its use of the name Sora for its video generator. Additionally, OpenAI faces legal battles with artists, creatives, and media organizations around the world concerning copyright infringement issues.