Staff Software Engineer-Backend

TikTok adds in-app Cameo integration for creators. Fans can request personalized videos without switching apps. Senior reporter Tue, March 31, 2026 at 12:54 PM PDT TikTok and Cameo are teaming up to make it easier for TikTok users to request personalized videos. The two companies announced a new integration that makes Cameo accessible directly from TikTok for creators and fans. With the update, TikTok creators can add Cameo links directly to their videos and viewers can request a personalized clip without leaving the TikTok app. Creators who aren't currently on Cameo can also sign up for the service without having to onboard through Cameo. Up to now, Cameo has been known for its personalized videos from celebrities, but TikTok stars are "among the fastest-growing talent segments" on the app, according to the company. The new integration should make it easier for those creators to reach fans and promote their presence on Cameo. It's not surprising that Cameo would see TikTok creators as a potentially large untapped audience for its service. It's not as clear what TikTok is getting out of the arrangement. The company could have created its own Cameo-style feature for personalized shoutouts. The app already has several features that allow fans to interact with creators, including by sending virtual gifts in livestreams. Cameo didn't immediately respond to questions about whether TikTok gets a cut of the transactions made via its app or if there are differences in pricing structure between the two apps.

Judge blocks OpenAI from using "Cameo" in Sora amid trademark dispute. OpenAI has been temporarily barred from using the term "cameo" in any product or feature within its Sora video-generation app. The ruling comes after a federal judge determined that the AI startup's use of the word could cause consumer confusion with the celebrity video platform Cameo. U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Monday, restricting OpenAI from using "Cameo," as well as similar marks including "Kameo" and "CameoVideo," for at least one month. A court order rooted in consumer confusion concerns. The TRO follows a trademark lawsuit filed in October by Cameo, a service widely known for enabling users to buy personalized celebrity videos. Cameo argued that OpenAI's Sora feature - previously branded as "Cameo" - infringed on its trademark and risked misleading customers. Judge Lee agreed that consumers could associate OpenAI's AI-generated video tools with Cameo's celebrity-focused marketplace, especially given the rising visibility of Sora's capabilities. The court order temporarily prevents OpenAI from using the disputed name in any function, feature, or marketing tied to Sora, which the company recently launched to allow users to create and manipulate video content. OpenAI pushes back on trademark claims. OpenAI disagreed with the ruling and rejected the premise of Cameo's complaint. "We disagree with the complaint's assertion that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word 'cameo', and we look forward to continuing to make our case to the court," an OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC. The company argues that "cameo" is a commonly used English word with broad meaning and should not be monopolized in emerging AI contexts. OpenAI maintains it did not intend to imitate or encroach on Cameo's brand identity. Why Cameo says its brand is at risk. Cameo CEO Steven Galanis welcomed the TRO, stating that OpenAI's branding decisions created unnecessary confusion. "We are gratified by the court's decision, which recognizes the need to protect consumers," Galanis said. "While the order is temporary, we hope that OpenAI will agree to stop using our mark permanently to avoid any further harm to the public or Cameo." Cameo has historically positioned itself as a platform built around real celebrity appearances, whereas OpenAI's "Cameo" feature allowed users to insert AI-generated representations of themselves or others into videos. Cameo argues this overlap - real vs. AI-based appearances - makes the similarity of names even more problematic. A critical moment as AI and entertainment collide. The lawsuit highlights a growing friction point as AI content tools expand into industries already driven by personality, likeness, and branding. Sora, OpenAI's flagship video-generation tool, allows users to craft sophisticated video scenes with minimal input. Its "Cameo" feature, now paused, aimed to make personalized character creation accessible at scale. For Cameo, this poses a potential competitive collision - even if one platform uses AI avatars and the other leverages human talent. As AI platforms increasingly intersect with entertainment, intellectual property disputes are expected to rise. Next steps: hearings and potential long-term restrictions. The temporary restraining order is scheduled to expire on December 22, unless extended or replaced by a longer-term injunction. A hearing to determine whether the restriction should become permanent will be held on December 19. OpenAI could face long-term limitations on naming and branding if the court sides with Cameo. That outcome could force the company to rebrand Sora's character-generation feature entirely. Cameo, meanwhile, will continue pushing for a permanent ban to protect the integrity of its trademark and avoid potential dilution as AI-generated content becomes more mainstream. What the case means for the broader AI industry. The dispute underscores a growing challenge for AI companies: navigating intellectual property law while releasing rapid-fire features with broad names and mass-market appeal. Traditional entertainment brands, already contending with AI's impact on likeness rights and content production, are becoming more vigilant about protecting their trademarks. If courts continue to view AI brand naming through the same lens as traditional tech and entertainment trademarks, startups may need to invest more deeply in unique naming strategies and early legal vetting. For now, OpenAI must halt its use of the term "cameo," and the tech world will closely watch whether this temporary order becomes a defining precedent in the intersection of AI and trademark law.

Cameo sues OpenAI for using 'Cameo' as the name for its virtual likeness function in the Sora app. * Cameo sued OpenAI and accused it of trademark infringement over Sora's "Cameo" feature. * Cameo says OpenAI's use of the word "Cameo" confuses consumers and dilutes its brand. * Cameo is seeking a court order to stop OpenAI from using the "Cameo" name. Cameo, the startup known for personalized celebrity videos, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against OpenAI, accusing the ChatGPT maker of trademark infringement over its new "Cameo" feature in the Sora video-generation app. In a complaint filed in the federal court of the Northern District of California on Tuesday, Cameo said OpenAI's use of the "Cameo" name, which describes a virtual likeness that users can create and share on Sora, is likely to confuse consumers and dilute its brand. The company argued that OpenAI chose the name "in blatant disregard for the obvious confusion it would create." "When naming its new service, OpenAI had a multitude of options to choose from. It could have chosen a descriptive name like 'virtual likeness' or 'avatar,'" wrote Cameo in the complaint. "OpenAI has made no secret of its ambition to dominate every profitable corner of the Internet with its AI-driven platforms," the complaint added. "In its rush to dominate new markets, Defendant has once again trampled the intellectual property rights of others." In a statement to Business Insider, Cameo CEO Steven Galanis said the company had attempted to settle the dispute "amicably," but OpenAI refused to change the name. "To protect fans, talent, and the integrity of our marketplace, we felt that we unfortunately had no other option but to bring this lawsuit," Galanis added. Founded in 2017, Cameo lets users pay celebrities for short, personalized videos. OpenAI's Sora app, which launched in September, allows users to create AI-generated clips, including hyperrealistic videos featuring celebrities like Mark Cuban and Jake Paul. Cameo said in the complaint that this feature directly competes with its business. Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know. "We're reviewing the complaint, but we disagree that anyone can claim exclusive ownership over the word 'cameo,'" an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider. Cameo is seeking monetary damages and a court order barring OpenAI from using the "Cameo" name. The company did not specify how much it is asking for. Roughly 20%, or 630 out of OpenAI's 3,000 employees, were formerly from Meta, tech news outlet The Information reported in October, citing data it analyzed from LinkedIn. In May, OpenAI announced that Instacart's then-CEO and chair, Fidji Simo, would be their new CEO of applications. Before helming Instacart, Simo spent over a decade working at Meta, where she oversaw Facebook's app and advertising products. OpenAI has also expressed interest in adult content, a feature first released by Elon Musk's xAI. In July, xAI introduced several AI companions, including Ani, a lingerie-wearing Japanese anime girl, on its Grok platform. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in an X post on October 14 that verified adults will get access to "erotica" on its ChatGPT platform in December. He added the company will roll out "age-gating more fully" alongside this change. Read next.