U.S. Court Bars OpenAI From Using 'Cameo' Name

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A federal district court in Northern California has ruled in favor of Cameo, a platform that allows users to get personalized video messages from celebrities, and ordered OpenAI to stop using the 'Cameo' name for its AI-powered video generation feature in the Sora 2 app. The court found the name was similar enough to Cameo's brand to cause user confusion, rejecting OpenAI's argument that 'Cameo' was merely descriptive.

Why it matters

This ruling is a victory for Cameo in protecting its intellectual property and brand recognition, which the company says it has worked hard to establish over nearly a decade. It also highlights the ongoing legal battles tech companies like OpenAI face over trademark and copyright issues as they develop new AI-powered products and features.

The details

In November, the court granted a temporary restraining order to Cameo and stopped OpenAI from using the 'Cameo' name. OpenAI then renamed the feature to 'Characters.' In its ruling, the court rejected OpenAI's argument that 'Cameo' was merely descriptive, finding that 'it suggests rather than describes the feature.' OpenAI has said it disagrees with the complaint's assertion that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word 'cameo' and looks forward to continuing to make its case.

• The federal district court in Northern California ruled in favor of Cameo on February 17, 2026.
• In November 2025, the court granted a temporary restraining order to Cameo and stopped OpenAI from using the 'Cameo' name.

What’s next

OpenAI has said it plans to continue fighting the court's ruling and make its case for using the 'Cameo' name.