A federal judge in Northern California has handed a win to Cameo, the celebrity video message platform, ordering OpenAI to stop using the name “Cameo” in any products or features.
The dispute centered on OpenAI’s use of “Cameo” as the name of a feature tied to its AI video generation app, Sora 2. According to the court, the branding was close enough to Cameo’s established trademark to create a real risk of consumer confusion. The judge also rejected OpenAI’s defense that the word “cameo” was simply descriptive in this context, explaining that the term “suggests rather than describes the feature,” making it less likely to qualify as a generic or purely descriptive label.
The contested feature allowed users to place a digital likeness of themselves into AI-generated videos. That overlap—using “Cameo” in a video-related product where Cameo is already a well-known name—helped persuade the court that the branding could mislead users into thinking there was a connection between the two companies.
This decision follows an earlier move in the case. Back in November, the same court issued a temporary restraining order that required OpenAI to stop using the word “Cameo” while the dispute proceeded. After that order, OpenAI renamed the feature to “Characters.”
Cameo CEO Steven Galanis called the ruling an important win for the platform and the creators who rely on it, emphasizing that the company has spent years building its brand around talent-friendly interactions and authentic connections. He also said Cameo plans to keep defending its intellectual property against any platform that tries to benefit from the brand recognition and goodwill Cameo has built.
OpenAI, however, pushed back on the idea that any one company should have exclusive ownership of the word “cameo,” and indicated it intends to continue arguing its position in court, according to a statement provided in response to the ruling.
The case is the latest in a string of intellectual property disputes involving OpenAI. In recent months, the company has faced multiple challenges related to product naming and broader conflicts with artists, creatives, and media organizations over alleged copyright violations in different parts of the world.
For businesses watching the fast-moving AI sector, the ruling is another reminder that product naming, branding, and trademark clearance matter—especially when new AI features touch industries where established brands already dominate the public’s attention.
