OpenAI’s social application, Sora, launched with a “Cameo” feature, enabling users to deepfake individuals, leading to a temporary restraining order issued by U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee.
The feature, which allows users to create deepfake videos of themselves or others with permission, has encountered legal challenges. The estate of Martin Luther King Jr. was previously involved in issues related to its rollout. OpenAI now faces a new legal action from Cameo, a platform where users purchase personalized video messages from celebrities, which asserts trademark rights to the term.
Judge Lee issued the temporary restraining order on November 21, 2025, prohibiting OpenAI from using the word “cameo” and any similar-sounding terms or phrases within Sora. This order is scheduled to expire on December 22, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. A hearing on the matter is set for December 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.
Despite the court order, as of Monday afternoon, the Sora app continued to use the “cameo” designation.
Steven Galanis, CEO of Cameo, stated, “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 added, “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 disputes the claim that Cameo holds exclusive ownership over the word “cameo,” according to a statement the company provided to CNBC.
