AI Sam Altman and the Sora copyright gamble: 'I hope Nintendo doesn't sue us' (www.cnbc.com)

OpenAI’s invite-only iOS app Sora lets users type prompts to generate short AI videos, and CNBC reporters were able to produce clips featuring copyrighted characters and logos — from SpongeBob and Patrick Star to Pikachu, Ronald McDonald and Simpsons-style figures. One clip even shows CEO Sam Altman saying, “I hope Nintendo doesn't sue us.” OpenAI says users can report infringing content, rights holders can request takedowns via a Copyright Disputes form, and people must opt in to create “cameos” of real likenesses; the company also says more granular controls for rights holders are coming. The app’s launch reportedly included offering some studios/talent agencies the option to opt out of Sora content, per the Wall Street Journal. The significance is legal and technical: because fictional characters are copyrightable, Sora’s easy prompt-to-video generation creates a likely flood of infringement disputes and a test case for how platforms balance creative tools with IP enforcement. Experts warn Sora could draw lawsuits similar to ones filed against Midjourney and challenges from Disney and Universal. For the AI/ML community this highlights two tensions — rapid capability growth in generative video and inadequate, ad-hoc rights-management systems — meaning developers must prioritize built-in guardrails, clearer rights-owner workflows, and robust provenance/takedown mechanisms to avoid costly litigation and preserve commercial partnerships.