OpenAI wasn't expecting Sora's copyright drama

Abstraction: Sora launch copyright backlash and OpenAI policy reversal at DevDay 2025

Key points:

• Sora launched with an opt-out copyright policy; after days of Nazi SpongeBob, criminal Pikachu, and other violations, Altman reversed to opt-in — "let rightsholders decide how to proceed"
• Sora 2 preview released at DevDay with API access for developers, reportedly without watermarks; Altman did not answer safeguard questions
• Watermarks on downloaded Sora videos are small and easily removable; tutorials proliferating online; Altman acknowledged "people are already finding ways to remove it"
• Adoption curve was more intense than ChatGPT's; Greg Brockman flagged compute as the number-one lesson of the Sora launch
• Altman positioned chaotic launch as deliberate societal co-evolution: "the only way we know of to help mitigate [challenges] is to get the world to experience it"
• OpenAI struck AMD deal (potential 10% stake) and pitched Stargate ($500B infrastructure over four years) as the infrastructure response to demand

Connections: Openai · Sam Altman · Sora · AI Safety · Generative AI

Source: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/795171/openai-devday-sam-altman-sora-launch-copyright