OpenAI’s Sora App Sparks Copyright Debate in Hollywood

OpenAI is preparing to launch Sora, a new AI-powered video generation app that allows users to create and share short AI videos. Videos can be generated from copyrighted material and shared across social media-style feeds, raising immediate copyright concerns. According to OpenAI, copyright owners such as film and television studios must opt out if they do not want their content to appear within the app’s video streams. This policy mirrors the company’s existing approach to AI image generation.

The move has already stirred tension in Hollywood. Reports indicate that Disney has opted out of participation, while OpenAI executives continue discussions with other major studios. The rollout comes at a time when OpenAI is actively lobbying for AI’s use of copyrighted data to fall under the fair use doctrine of U.S. copyright law. In a March filing to the Trump administration, OpenAI argued that applying fair use to AI training is critical not only for competitiveness but also for U.S. national security. Without this, they warned, American AI firms risk losing ground to China.

To address concerns around likeness misuse, OpenAI has added safeguards to Sora. The app prohibits generating videos of public figures or private individuals without consent. A verification step, called a liveness check, requires users to move their heads and recite a random number to confirm identity. Users must also upload their own AI-generated likeness before others can include them in content.

Sora videos are capped at 10 seconds, and a feature called Cameo lets users create digital versions of themselves to insert into AI-generated scenes. Industry analysts, including Morgan Stanley’s Brian Nowak, view Sora as a potential rival to platforms like TikTok, Meta, and YouTube, predicting it could reshape how consumers spend time online.

As OpenAI enters the entertainment space, the tension between AI innovation and copyright protection is intensifying, setting the stage for legal and industry battles ahead.