OpenAI learned the hard way that Cameo has trademarked the word “cameo.”

OpenAI’s social app Sora has launched with a controversial feature called Cameo, allowing users to fake themselves or others (with permission). The feature had a weak rollout — Martin Luther King Jr.’s estate had to be involved, to give you an idea of ​​what happened — but it now faces a new challenge.

Apparently, Cameo — the app where you can buy personalized video messages from celebrities — can claim the trademark for the word “cameo.”

U.S. District Judge Iommi K. I have a temporary restraining order prohibiting OpenAI from using the word “cameo,” as well as any similar words or phrases, on Sora.

The temporary restraining order issued on November 21, 2025 is scheduled to expire on December 22, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. A hearing on this matter is scheduled for December 19, 2025 at 11:00 a.m

As of Monday afternoon, the Sora app still uses the “cameo” language.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision, which recognizes the need to protect consumers from the confusion created by OpenAI using the Cameo trademark,” Cameo CEO Stephen Galanis said in a statement. “Although the court order is temporary, we hope that OpenAI will agree to stop using our mark permanently to avoid any further harm to the public or Cameo.”

OpenAI disagrees with the assertion that the company can claim exclusive ownership of the word “cameo,” the company told CNBC.