OpenAI said it will add opt-in, granular controls for rights holders in its Sora AI video app and introduce a revenue model designed to share proceeds with them, though no exact rollout date was given beyond “soon” [fastcompany.com#2][techcrunch.com#4][pcmag.com#5]. The moves follow a surge in use—Sora hit No. 1 on the U.S. App Store despite being invite-only—and mounting concerns over copyrighted characters appearing in user videos [fastcompany.com#2]. Researchers and reporters also flagged violent and racist clips in Sora’s social feed, even as OpenAI’s policies prohibit content that promotes violence or causes harm [theguardian.com#3].
Highlights:
- New controls: OpenAI will give rights holders granular, opt-in control over character generation and tweak Sora to enable revenue sharing with rights holders, with changes coming “soon” [fastcompany.com#2][techcrunch.com#4][pcmag.com#5].
- App momentum: Sora rose to the top of the U.S. Apple App Store within days of launch despite remaining invite-only [fastcompany.com#2].
- Content concerns: Sora’s feed showed copyrighted characters and graphic scenes of violence and racism, despite rules against content that promotes violence or causes harm [theguardian.com#3][fastcompany.com#2].
- Policy gaps: OpenAI applies watermarks to all Sora videos, bans public-figure depictions, and rejects face uploads without consent, but allows historical figures, including deceased celebrities [slashdot.org#1].
- Legal scrutiny: Legal experts criticized OpenAI’s initial opt-out approach as unusual under copyright law and warned of potential infringement exposure [slashdot.org#1].
We are hearing from a lot of rightsholders who are very excited for this new kind of ‘interactive fan fiction’ and think this new kind of engagement will accrue a lot of value to them, but want the ability to specify how their characters can be used (including not at all) – Sam Altman
Perspectives:
- OpenAI: Sora will add granular, opt-in controls and a revenue model to share value with rights holders. (Fast Company)
- Legal experts: Opt-out copyright approaches are unusual and many user-made character videos are likely infringing. (slashdot.org)
- Misinformation researchers: Hyper-realistic, violent and racist clips risk obfuscating truth and enabling bullying or intimidation. (The Guardian)
- Tech reviewers: The technology feels both impressive and unsettling, with feeds dominated by memes and deepfakes. (Mashable)
Sources:
- Sora's Controls Don't Block All Deepfakes or Copyright Infringements – slashdot.org
- OpenAI’s Sam Altman drops major new Sora updates as AI video app soars to number one in U.S. – fastcompany.com
- OpenAI launch of video app Sora plagued by violent and racist images: ‘The guardrails are not real’ – theguardian.com
- Sam Altman says Sora will add ‘granular,’ opt-in copyright controls – techcrunch.com
- No More Pikachu Oppenheimer? OpenAI Promises Rightsholders More Control Over Sora Creations – pcmag.com
- OpenAI’s Sora 2 is an unholy abomination – reddit.com
- With Sora 2, users can let their friends, or anyone, create AI video cameos using your likeness. – youtube.com
- Ive been using Sora 2, and its SpongeBob, memes, and deepfakes all the way down – mashable.com
