The Powers That Be: Daily Sam Altman’s Hollywood Lawsuit Machine
Oct 8, 2025
Eriq Gardner, an entertainment and legal journalist, joins to unpack the chaos surrounding OpenAI's Sora 2 app and its legal troubles. He dives into the backlash from creators and the implications of copyright litigation from The New York Times and Authors Guild. Eriq explores Sam Altman's optimistic stance on navigating these lawsuits, the shift from opt-out to opt-in policies, and potential revenue-sharing models for rights holders. The conversation also covers OpenAI's aggressive legal and product strategies, making it a captivating, insightful discussion.
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Viral, Shocking Sora 2 Examples
- Peter describes viral Sora 2 clips portraying public figures in shocking or humorous scenarios.
- Examples included Kobe Bryant, Stephen Hawking, and a racist cop rendering that demonstrated the app's reach and controversy.
Opt-Out To Opt-In Shift
- OpenAI switched Sora 2 from an opt-out to an opt-in model for likeness and copyright after backlash.
- Sam Altman framed the change as giving rights holders more granular control and potentially revenue sharing.
Sora 2 As Fan Fiction And Revenue Play
- OpenAI pitches Sora 2 as fan-fiction-style creativity rather than replacement media.
- The company suggests revenue sharing with rights holders as a path to cooperation.
