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OpenAI Launches “Sora” — an AI Video App That Can Generate Clips from Copyrighted Material

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OpenAI has unveiled Sora, a new AI-powered video creation app that allows users to generate and share short videos — including those derived from copyrighted content — directly to a built-in social media-style feed. The app, which represents OpenAI’s most ambitious push yet into generative video, is expected to raise new tensions across the entertainment industry.

According to the company, copyright holders such as movie and television studios must actively opt out if they do not wish to have their content appear in the app’s video feed. OpenAI described this as a continuation of its previous opt-out policy used for AI image generation, where creators must explicitly request the exclusion of their work from model training or public feeds.

The move is already sparking debate in Hollywood. People familiar with the matter said that Disney has opted out, and other major studios are currently in talks with OpenAI over the implications of Sora’s copyright framework.

Earlier this year, OpenAI urged the Trump administration to formally classify the use of copyrighted material for AI training as “fair use” under U.S. law — a position it argued was essential for national competitiveness and security, warning that U.S. AI firms could fall behind Chinese rivals without legal clarity.

Beyond copyright issues, OpenAI said Sora includes robust safeguards to prevent the misuse of personal likenesses and public figures. Users cannot generate videos of other people unless those individuals upload an AI “liveness check” — a verification process requiring users to move their heads and recite random numbers — to confirm consent.

Sora videos can be up to 10 seconds long and feature a new “Cameo” function, allowing users to create lifelike digital doubles of themselves and insert them into AI-generated scenes. The company says these videos are intended for creative experimentation and entertainment, with built-in transparency markers indicating AI generation.

Market analysts view the Sora app as a direct challenge to existing short-video giants such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak noted that the platform’s combination of AI creativity and social-sharing features positions OpenAI “in the business of competing for attention and reshaping user behavior.”

As Hollywood, regulators, and AI companies continue to clash over intellectual property and deepfake laws, Sora’s launch could set a major precedent for how AI-generated audiovisual content will be treated under future copyright and media frameworks.

Disney+ to Raise Subscription Prices for Fourth Straight Year

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Walt Disney announced it will increase subscription prices for Disney+ in the United States starting next month, marking the fourth consecutive year of price hikes for its flagship streaming platform.

Beginning October 21, the ad-supported Disney+ plan will rise by $2 to $11.99 per month, while the ad-free premium tier will increase by $3 to $18.99. Annual premium subscriptions will also see a $30 jump, reaching $189.99.

According to Disney’s website, bundled packages that combine Disney+ with Hulu and ESPN+ will also be subject to price increases.

The company has been under increased public scrutiny after controversy erupted over the temporary removal of Jimmy Kimmel Live! from ABC, which even triggered boycott calls against Disney services.

Since its launch in November 2019 at $6.99 per month, Disney+ has steadily raised prices as part of a broader strategy to offset streaming losses and establish the service as a key growth driver. Last year, the streaming business turned profitable for the first time.

This latest round of hikes follows a 38% increase in December 2022 and further raises in October 2023 and 2024, solidifying Disney’s pattern of annual price adjustments.

Warner Bros Discovery Sues Midjourney Over Use of Superman, Scooby-Doo in AI Images

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Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O) has filed a lawsuit against AI photo-generation company Midjourney, accusing it of illegally using iconic characters such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Bugs Bunny, and Scooby-Doo to train and generate images without authorization.

In a complaint lodged in Los Angeles federal court, Warner Bros alleged that Midjourney built its platform by exploiting copyrighted material, enabling subscribers to create high-quality, downloadable depictions of its characters “in every imaginable scene.” The lawsuit claims Midjourney knowingly disregarded copyright protections, pointing to the company’s prior restriction on video generation from infringing images, a safeguard that was recently lifted and promoted as an upgrade.

“Midjourney has made a calculated and profit-driven decision to offer zero protection for copyright owners, even though it knows the breathtaking scope of its piracy,” the complaint states. Warner Bros is seeking damages, disgorgement of profits, and an injunction to stop further unauthorized use.

The action follows a similar case brought in June by Walt Disney and Comcast’s Universal, which accused Midjourney of misusing characters including Darth Vader, Shrek, Bart Simpson, and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.

Founded in 2022 by David Holz, San Francisco-based Midjourney has grown rapidly, amassing nearly 21 million users and generating an estimated $300 million in revenue in 2024. The company has previously argued that training AI models on copyrighted works falls under “fair use,” allowing for the “free flow of ideas and information.”

Warner Bros, whose portfolio spans DC Comics, Hanna-Barbera, Cartoon Network, and Turner Entertainment, said protecting its intellectual property is vital to safeguarding its creative partnerships and investments. “The heart of what we do is develop stories and characters to entertain our audiences,” a company spokesperson said.

The case is Warner Bros Entertainment Inc et al v Midjourney Inc, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 25-08376.