OpenAI to Add Granular Copyright Controls to Sora
OpenAI is shifting its strategy regarding intellectual property within its Sora video generation platform. Following reports that the company initially expected studios to manually opt out of having their content used, CEO Sam Altman confirmed that the platform will transition toward a more restrictive, opt-in framework for rights holders.
The move comes as Sora, despite its current invite-only status, has seen users experiment with high-profile studio-owned characters. These AI-generated clips, which have already included figures like Pikachu and SpongeBob interacting with digital likenesses of Altman, highlight the growing friction between viral user creativity and established copyright protections.
Implementing Granular Control
In a blog post released Friday, Altman outlined plans to provide creators and studios with precise management tools. Rather than requiring rights holders to proactively police the platform, OpenAI intends to implement a system where they can explicitly authorize the use of their characters.
“We are hearing from a lot of rights holders 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),” Altman stated. He noted that while the company aims for accuracy, there may still be instances where unauthorized content bypasses these new filters.
Monetization and Revenue Sharing
Beyond copyright management, OpenAI is evaluating how to build a sustainable economic model for its video generation tools. While the company previously focused on charging users during peak traffic periods, Altman signaled that a broader monetization strategy is underway.
The company is exploring potential revenue-sharing models with rights holders, acknowledging that the value generated by these new forms of interactive engagement should ideally benefit both the platform and the original creators. “Our hope is that the new kind of engagement is even more valuable than the revenue share, but of course we … want both to be valuable,” Altman added.
The update arrives as Sora continues to gain traction, particularly for its “cameo” feature, which allows users to integrate their own biometric data into generated content, raising further questions about how the company balances creative freedom with digital identity and property rights.