OpenAI appears to be shifting its stance regarding copyright and intellectual property with the introduction of its latest video platform, Sora.
Before Sora officially debuted this week, The Wall Street Journal revealed that OpenAI had informed Hollywood studios and agencies that they would need to actively opt out if they wished to prevent their intellectual property from being used in videos produced by Sora.
Although access to the app is currently by invitation only, Sora rapidly soared to the top of the App Store rankings. One of its standout features is the “cameos,” which allow users to upload their biometric information and see their digital avatars appear in AI-created videos.
Meanwhile, many users seem to enjoy sidestepping copyright restrictions by making videos featuring well-known characters owned by major studios. Sometimes, these characters are even depicted criticizing OpenAI’s copyright policies, such as in clips where Pikachu and SpongeBob interact with deepfake versions of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
In a blog update posted on Friday, Altman announced that the company intends to implement two updates to Sora. The first will provide copyright owners with “more detailed control over character generation, similar to the opt-in system for likenesses but with expanded options.”
The emphasis on “opt-in” indicates that OpenAI plans to restrict the creation of videos featuring copyrighted characters unless explicit permission has been granted by studios or other rights holders.
“We’re hearing from many rights holders who are enthusiastic about this new form of ‘interactive fan fiction’ and believe it could bring them significant value, but they want to be able to determine exactly how their characters are used—including the option to prohibit use entirely,” Altman explained.
Despite this revised policy, Altman admitted there will probably still be “a few exceptional cases where unauthorized content slips through.”
The second update he referenced involves a yet-to-be-detailed method for monetizing videos. Previously, the company’s only stated monetization plan was to charge users for creating additional videos during peak times. Altman’s latest blog post expands on this, noting that “we will need to find a way to generate revenue from video creation.” He also mentioned the possibility of sharing profits with rights holders.
“Ideally, this new type of engagement will prove even more valuable than revenue sharing, but naturally, we hope both aspects will offer significant benefits.”
