OpenAI revises Sora 2 after viral video of Sam Altman eating Pikachu sparks copyright concerns

OpenAI has moved to tighten restrictions on its new AI video tool, Sora 2, following a wave of viral clips that used copyrighted characters without permission, including one depicting CEO Sam Altman eating a Pikachu.

Launched last week alongside a short-form video platform, Sora 2 allows invite-only users to generate videos using text prompts.

However, within days of release, social media was flooded with clips featuring well-known video game and anime figures such as Mario, Goku, and One-Punch Man, prompting questions about copyright infringement.

Altman confirmed on October 3 that the company is updating Sora 2’s framework so that rights holders must now “opt in” for users to generate videos featuring their intellectual property.

Previously, companies had to “opt out.” He also revealed plans for a revenue-sharing model that would compensate companies whose content appears in Sora 2 creations.

“We are hearing from a lot of rightsholders who are very excited for this new kind of interactive fan fiction,” Altman wrote. “They want the ability to specify how their characters can be used.”

Nintendo, known for its strict protection of its brands, clarified over the weekend that it had not lobbied the Japanese government for AI regulation but would “continue to take necessary actions” against intellectual property infringement.

The controversy comes as OpenAI faces ongoing legal scrutiny from media and entertainment companies over its use of copyrighted materials to train AI models.

With Sora 2 now under increased monitoring, the company aims to balance creativity and compliance in what could be a pivotal moment for AI-generated entertainment.