OpenAI’s Sora 2 raises copyright concerns as Pikachu, Goku and SpongeBob appear in AI videos

OpenAI’s new Sora 2 tool generates videos featuring copyrighted characters, raising legal and creative concerns

OpenAI has released Sora 2, the latest version of its video generation model, but the tool is already drawing criticism for producing content featuring copyrighted characters.

Launched on September 30, Sora 2 allows users to generate short-form animated clips that can include familiar figures such as Pikachu, Goku and SpongeBob SquarePants.

According to 404 Media, the model has been used to create videos of characters in unusual and inappropriate scenarios, including ASMR content, boxing matches, and in one case, a Nazi version of SpongeBob.

By default, the system is trained on copyrighted material, leaving rights holders with the responsibility of requesting removal rather than requiring consent in advance.

This approach has placed OpenAI in the centre of a wider debate over generative AI and intellectual property. Similar lawsuits are already ongoing, with Disney, NBC and Warner Bros. taking action against Midjourney, while artists who contributed to Magic: The Gathering have also sued over the unauthorised use of their artwork in training datasets.

Beyond copyrighted characters, Sora 2 has also been reported to generate deepfakes of public figures and ordinary users, despite OpenAI’s claims of safeguards.

Some users claim to have seen manipulated content involving real celebrities, including an instance of a blackface version of Scarlett Johansson. OpenAI previously faced controversy over the unauthorised use of a voice resembling Johansson in its ChatGPT product.

Critics argue that tools like Sora 2 may encourage studios to reduce reliance on human animators in favour of cheaper AI outputs. For many artists, this represents not only a legal issue but also a challenge to the creative integrity of their work.

The Pokémon Company, Supergiant Games and Toei Animation have been contacted for comment regarding their characters’ appearance in Sora 2 videos. Given the history of legal challenges in this space, analysts suggest further disputes could be on the horizon.