sam altman says sora will add ‘granular,’ opt-in copyright controls

OpenAI's Potential Shift in Copyright Handling for Sora

Recent developments suggest that OpenAI is reconsidering its initial strategy regarding copyright and intellectual property within its new video generation application, Sora.

Initial Approach and Concerns

Prior to Sora’s release this week, reports from The Wall Street Journal indicated that OpenAI communicated to Hollywood studios and agencies the necessity of explicitly opting out if they wished to prevent their intellectual property from appearing in Sora-generated content.

Despite being accessible only by invitation, Sora rapidly achieved a top position in the App Store rankings.

Sora’s Features and User Behavior

A particularly notable aspect of Sora is its capability for “cameos,” allowing users to upload biometric data and see digital representations of themselves within AI-created videos.

However, users have demonstrated a tendency to disregard copyright regulations by producing videos featuring well-known, studio-owned characters.

Interestingly, these characters have even been depicted criticizing OpenAI’s copyright policies, as seen in videos showcasing interactions between figures like Pikachu and SpongeBob alongside deepfakes of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

Proposed Changes to Copyright Control

In a blog post released on Friday, Sam Altman announced that OpenAI is planning two key modifications to Sora.

The first involves granting copyright holders “more granular control over character generation,” mirroring an opt-in system for likeness rights but with expanded controls.

The term “opt-in” is crucial, implying that OpenAI will prevent the creation of videos utilizing copyrighted characters unless explicit permission has been granted by the respective studios and rights holders.

Rights Holder Engagement and Value

Altman stated that numerous rights holders have expressed enthusiasm for this new form of “interactive fan fiction,” believing it will generate significant value.

These rights holders also desire the ability to define how their characters are utilized, including the option to prohibit their use altogether.

Acknowledging Imperfections and Monetization

Altman conceded that some unauthorized generations may still occur despite the new measures.

The second planned change concerns video monetization.

Previously, OpenAI indicated its monetization strategy would involve charging users for additional video creation during peak demand.

Altman’s post expands on this, suggesting a need to generate revenue from video generation and the potential for revenue sharing with rights holders.

“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 explained.

• Sora: OpenAI’s new video generation application.
• Copyright Holders: Studios and agencies owning intellectual property.
• Opt-in System: A model requiring explicit permission for IP usage.