OpenAI to Enhance Copyright Control in Sora 2

OpenAI has pledged to provide copyright holders with more detailed control over character generation following the release of its new video app, Sora 2, which has generated videos featuring copyrighted characters.

Sora 2, an AI-powered video generator, was launched last week on an invite-only basis, allowing users to create short videos based on text prompts. The app has produced videos featuring characters from shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, Pokémon, and Rick and Morty.

The Wall Street Journal reported that prior to Sora 2's release, OpenAI informed talent agencies and studios that they would need to opt out if they did not want their copyrighted material replicated by the video generator.

OpenAI stated that content owners can report copyright infringements using a 'copyright disputes form', but individual artists or studios cannot opt out entirely. Varun Shetty, OpenAI's head of media partnerships, mentioned, 'We will work with rights holders to block characters from Sora at their request and respond to takedown requests.'

On Saturday, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced in a blog post that the company has been receiving feedback from users, rights holders, and other groups, and will implement changes accordingly. He emphasized that rights holders would be given more 'granular control' over character generation.

Altman stated that OpenAI would allow rights holders to decide how to proceed and acknowledged that some 'edge cases of generations' might bypass the platform's safeguards. He also mentioned the need to monetize video generation, suggesting potential payments to rights holders who permit character generation.