OpenAI is temporarily blocked from using the word 'cameo' for its video app (www.businessinsider.com)

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking OpenAI from using the word "cameo" (or any similar mark) in connection with its Sora video app until December 22, after personalized-video company Cameo sued for trademark infringement. US District Judge Eumi K. Lee said OpenAI is likely infringing Cameo’s registered mark; a December 19 hearing will determine whether the injunction becomes permanent. OpenAI disputes that anyone can claim exclusive ownership of the word and says it will continue to litigate. The contested Sora feature—called “cameos” in the app—generates short personalized videos or likeness-based clips of users, pets, or objects; Cameo argues the name and use risk irreparable harm to its brand, especially during a high-volume holiday period. For the AI/ML community this is a practical reminder that product naming and branding can trigger fast-moving intellectual-property actions that disrupt launches and user-facing workflows even when underlying models remain unchanged. The ruling doesn’t ban the technology, but it could force rebranding, delay marketing and feature rollouts, and highlights legal exposure around likeness-generation and celebrity/brand-adjacent functionality. Teams building generative multimedia should factor trademark clearance, domain/mark policing, and seasonal business impacts into release plans, and consider legal review early when adopting consumer-facing names for model-driven features.