A federal court in Northern California has ruled against OpenAI, ordering the artificial intelligence company to stop using the name “Cameo” for one of its product features after a trademark challenge from the celebrity video platform Cameo.

The disputed name was used for a feature within OpenAI’s video generation product, which allowed users to insert digital likenesses of themselves into AI-generated videos.

The court found that the term was likely to confuse consumers and rejected OpenAI’s argument that “cameo” was merely descriptive.

In a ruling filed over the weekend, the judge concluded that the name suggests rather than describes the feature, making it legally protectable.

This decision followed an earlier temporary restraining order issued in November, which had already forced OpenAI to pause use of the term.

Cameo’s chief executive welcomed the decision, calling it a major victory for creators who rely on the platform’s brand identity.

He emphasized that the company has spent nearly a decade building trust and goodwill within the creator economy.

OpenAI, which has since renamed the feature “Characters,” said it disagrees with the ruling and maintains that no single company should claim exclusive rights to common language.

The case adds to a growing list of intellectual property disputes involving the company across multiple jurisdictions.

Source: TechCrunch