OpenAI Commits to Enhanced Copyright Management After Sora 2 Creates Footage of Popular Figures
OpenAI is vowing to provide rights owners with “more granular control” regarding the creation of characters following its newly launched tool, Sora 2, generated a flood of clips featuring copyrighted characters.
The Video Generator’s Launch and Initial Concerns
Sora 2, powered by AI, was introduced recently on an exclusive basis. This tool enables individuals to create brief clips from a text prompt. Early reviews of the AI-generated content stream revealed protected figures from popular series including SpongeBob SquarePants, adult cartoons, creature-collecting franchises and sci-fi comedies.
Before launch of Sora 2, OpenAI allegedly informed talent agencies and studios that if they did not want their protected content replicated by the AI tool, they would need to decline.
“Our team will collaborate with copyright owners to prevent character generation upon request and address removal inquiries.”
OpenAI stated that content owners can flag unauthorized use using a dedicated reporting tool, but individual artists or companies cannot have a universal exclusion.
CEO’s Reaction and Future Plans
Recently, the company’s leader Sam Altman announced in a public statement that the organization had been gathering input from users, rights holders and other groups, and would make adjustments as a result.
He mentioned that rights holders would be given more “granular control” over character generation, akin to how users can opt-in to share their own image in the app, but with “additional controls”.
“Many copyright owners have expressed enthusiasm for this innovative form of ‘interactive fan fiction’ and believe it will generate significant value, yet they desire the power to define usage terms for their characters, including complete prohibition.”
Addressing Exceptions and Revenue Plans
The CEO stated that OpenAI would allow copyright owners to determine their approach and that there would be some “edge cases of generations” that bypass the system’s protections that ought not to.
He added that the organization would also “have to somehow make money” from video generation, and already the system was observing people generating much more content than anticipated per user. This could mean compensation to copyright owners who grant permission their figures to be created.
“The exact model will take some trial and error to figure out, but we plan to start very soon,” he commented. “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.”
He concluded by saying that there would be a high rate of change, comparable to the early ChatGPT days, and there would be both successful choices and occasional errors.
