OpenAI’s new app, Sora 2, has generated substantial excitement since its launch a little over a week ago. This text-to-video application is designed to offer users a TikTok-like experience, allowing them to create videos using various AI-generated characters.
Launch of Sora 2
On its debut, Sora 2 quickly climbed to the top of the Apple App Store rankings, reflecting an overwhelming interest from users. The app’s capability to generate videos featuring well-known characters, such as Sam Altman grilling alongside Pikachu, captured widespread attention.
Copyright Concerns Arise
However, the excitement was short-lived due to impending copyright issues. Initially, rightsholders were required to “opt out” of having their content displayed, a policy later retracted by OpenAI. CEO Sam Altman announced that the company would take a different approach, allowing rights holders more control over how their characters were used in the app.
Industry Backlash
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), representing major film studios, responded with a strong statement, calling for immediate actions from OpenAI to prevent copyright infringements. These concerns led OpenAI to introduce stricter regulations on the types of content users could create on Sora 2.
- Launch Date: Just over a week ago.
- App Store Rating: 2.9 stars, indicating user dissatisfaction.
- Key Characters: Sam Altman, Pikachu, Super Mario, Courage the Cowardly Dog.
User Reactions and Experience
Users have expressed mixed feelings about Sora 2 as it tries to balance user creativity and copyright compliance. The implementation of restrictive measures has sparked disappointment among many users, who feel the app has become less enjoyable. Reddit users criticized OpenAI for excessively censoring creative content, arguing that some videos should qualify as fair use.
Continued Legal Risks
This situation echoes recent legal troubles faced by other companies in the AI field. Warner Bros. Discovery has already pursued legal action against AI image generator Midjourney over similar infringement concerns. Furthermore, competitors like Anthropic were hit with a $1.5 billion settlement for copyright-related issues.
Altman’s Perspective
In a podcast interview, Altman suggested that some copyright holders welcome the use of their characters in Sora. He claimed, “Many rightsholders are actually begging to have their characters appear on Sora.” However, how widely this viewpoint is shared among rights holders remains uncertain.
The launch of Sora 2 has indeed been a whirlwind event, filled with excitement, frustration, and potential legal ramifications. As OpenAI navigates these challenges, the future of the app, as well as its reputation, hangs in the balance.
