OpenAI is in hot water for something it probably never saw coming: the naming of a feature in its new social app, Sora. The AI giant launched Sora with a feature called “Cameo,” which lets users create deepfake videos of their own or others who have given permission.
The rollout was already rocky enough that Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate had to step in-which should tell you everything you need to know about how that went, but now OpenAI faces a different kind of problem, one that has nothing to do with ethics and everything to do with trademark law.
It just so happens there’s already a company by the name of Cameo. You may know it as that app where you can hire celebrities to record personalized video messages. And they are none too pleased with OpenAI using their name.
OpenAI Enjoined from Using ‘Cameo’ in Sora App, CEO Calls Out Non-Compliance
The U.S. District Judge, Eumi K. Lee, sided with them at least for now. On November 21, 2025, she granted a temporary restraining order against OpenAI, enjoining them from using the word “cameo” or any other word with a similar sound in its Sora app. It will run until December 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. A hearing will be held on December 19th at 11:00 a.m. to hash things out.
Here’s the interesting part: as of Monday afternoon, Sora was still using the “cameo” language in spite of the court order. Whether that’s an oversight, a technical delay, or something else is unclear.
Cameo CEO Steven Galanis didn’t mince words about the situation. “We are gratified by the court’s decision, which recognizes the need to protect consumers from the confusion that OpenAI has created by using the Cameo trademark,” he said in a statement. “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, for its part, is not backing down without a fight. The company told CNBC it disagrees with the assertion that Cameo can claim exclusive ownership over the word “cameo.” That’s a reasonable position on its face-after all, “cameo” is a common English word that’s been around for centuries, referring to brief appearances by famous people in movies or TV shows.
But that’s not quite how trademark law works. Companies can trademark common words, but only when they’re used in specific contexts, especially if they have built brand recognition around them. Consider Apple, Amazon, or Target-all common words that are now strongly associated with specific companies in the tech, retail, and shopping spaces.
OpenAI’s “Cameo” Feature Faces Dual Crisis: Trademark Spat and Deepfake Controversy
Cameo, the company been around since 2016, building a platform that has become synonymous with personalized celebrity video messages. They’ve carved out a clear niche for themselves in the entertainment and social media space.
So when OpenAI launched a feature with the same name that also involves creating personalized videos-even if the technology is the potential for consumer confusion becomes a real concern.
It couldn’t have happened at a worse time for OpenAI. Sora’s launch was already mired in controversy because of the deepfake capabilities of its Cameo feature. The involvement of Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate suggests serious concerns about how the technology might be misused, especially when it comes to the likenesses of historical figures or people who cannot give consent.
If navigating those ethical minefields weren’t enough, OpenAI now faces a trademark dispute that may make them change the name of a core feature within the new app. Rebranding is not only about renaming a word in the code; it also means updating marketing materials, user interfaces, and documentation, and it may even involve re-educating users who may have already used the feature by its old name.
The OpenAI-Cameo Trademark Conflict and the Dash to Launch
The case highlights a bigger challenge for tech companies moving fast in the AI space: sometimes the dash to launch means overlooking basic legal considerations, such as trademark searches.
It’s astonishing that a company of OpenAI’s size and resources failed to catch this potential conflict before launch, but it would hardly be the first time one of the major tech companies stumbled over intellectual property issues.
The December 19 hearing will be critical. If a judge rules in Cameo’s favor, OpenAI will have to rename the feature and possibly pay additional damages. If OpenAI wins, that could set an interesting precedent as to how broadly common words can be protected as trademarks when they are used in various technological contexts.
As of now, both firms are standing their ground, and consumers are just witnesses to another chapter unfolding in the increasingly complex intersection of AI technology with ethics and law.
