OpenAI's Sora: Balancing Innovation with Copyright Control and Monetization
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OpenAI seeks to monetize Sora (MSFT:NASDAQ)
Days after launching Sora 2 this week, OpenAI, the tech startup backed by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), said that it will soon roll out two major changes to the AI video-generating tool, which became the number one app in Apple's ( OpenAI intends to share Sora video creation revenue with rightsholders, benefiting those who allow their copyrighted characters to be generated. OpenAI will let rightsholders have more granular control over how their characters are generated, possibly moving from an opt-out to a more restrictive participation process. OpenAI is responding to feedback from rightsholders and users, many of whom support engagement with their content but want clearer control mechanisms.
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OpenAI to boost content owners' control for Sora AI video app, plans monetization
(Reuters) -ChatGPT creator OpenAI will soon introduce controls allowing the owners of content rights to dictate how their characters are used in its AI video-generating tool Sora and plans to share revenue with those who permit such use. The artificial intelligence company will give rights holders "more granular control over generation of characters," Chief Executive Sam Altman posted on his blog on Friday. Altman said options for copyright owners, such as television and movie studios, will include being able to block the use of their characters. Scrutiny is growing over AI-generated content and its impact on intellectual property rights, as companies navigate how to balance innovation with fair compensation for creators. OpenAI launched Sora this week as a standalone app, initially available in the United States and Canada. Videos in the app can be up to 10 seconds long. The app, which swiftly rose in popularity, lets users create and share AI videos that can be spun from copyrighted content and shared to social media-like streams. Its copyright policy is expected to stir tensions in Hollywood. At least one major studio, Disney, has opted out of having their material appear in the app, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. OpenAI also plans to introduce a revenue-sharing model for copyright holders who permit their characters to be generated by users, Altman wrote. He said users are creating significantly more video content than expected, often for niche audiences, prompting the need for a monetization strategy. Altman acknowledged that the revenue-sharing framework "will take some trial and error to figure out," but said implementation would begin soon as OpenAI intends to test various approaches within Sora, before rolling out a consistent model across its broader product suite. Microsoft-backed OpenAI launched a Sora model for public use last year, expanding its foray into multimodal AI technologies and competing with similar text-to-video tools from Meta and Alphabet's Google. Meta recently unveiled Vibes, a platform where users can create and share short-form, AI-generated videos. (Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard)
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OpenAI plans to introduce new controls and revenue-sharing models for its AI video-generating tool Sora, aiming to address copyright concerns and monetize content creation. The move comes as the app gains popularity and faces scrutiny over intellectual property rights.
OpenAI, the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT, is set to introduce significant changes to its AI video-generating tool, Sora, in response to growing concerns over intellectual property rights and content control. These developments come shortly after the launch of Sora 2 and its rapid rise to popularity as a standalone app in the United States and Canada .
Enhanced Content Control for Rightsholders
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company will soon implement more granular control options for content rightsholders, such as television and movie studios . This move aims to address the delicate balance between fostering innovation and ensuring fair compensation for creators. The new controls will allow rightsholders to:
- Dictate how their characters are used within the Sora platform
- Block the use of their characters entirely if desired
This shift in policy suggests a potential move from an opt-out system to a more restrictive participation process, giving content owners greater authority over how their intellectual property is utilized within the AI-generated videos .
Revenue-Sharing Model
In a bid to monetize Sora and create a mutually beneficial ecosystem, OpenAI plans to introduce a revenue-sharing model for copyright holders who permit their characters to be generated by users . Altman acknowledged that developing this framework "will take some trial and error to figure out," but emphasized the company's commitment to implementing it soon .
The revenue-sharing strategy is expected to be tested within Sora before potentially being rolled out across OpenAI's broader product suite. This approach aims to address the concerns of rightsholders while also capitalizing on the unexpected surge in video content creation by users, often for niche audiences .
Industry Impact and Reactions
The introduction of Sora as a standalone app has already stirred tensions in Hollywood. Reports suggest that at least one major studio, Disney, has opted out of having their material appear in the app . This highlights the ongoing challenges faced by AI companies in navigating the complex landscape of copyright law and content creation.
As scrutiny over AI-generated content intensifies, OpenAI's moves reflect a broader industry trend of balancing technological innovation with respect for intellectual property rights. The company's approach to Sora may set a precedent for how other AI firms handle similar issues in the future.
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Competition in the AI Video Generation Space
OpenAI's efforts to refine Sora come amidst growing competition in the AI video generation market. Tech giants like Meta and Google's Alphabet have also entered this space with their own text-to-video tools . Meta recently unveiled Vibes, a platform for creating and sharing short-form, AI-generated videos, further intensifying the race for dominance in this emerging technology sector.
As OpenAI continues to develop and refine its approach to content control and monetization in Sora, the tech industry and content creators alike will be watching closely to see how these changes impact the landscape of AI-generated media and intellectual property rights.
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