OpenAI’s Sora, an AI-powered video generator, has launched on Android in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, following its iOS debut.

Sora has already attracted strong early traction, with over 1 million downloads in under five days.

The app features a TikTok/Instagram Reels–style feed that prioritizes content from friends and known creators, distinguishing it from peers that emphasize larger creator networks.

Launch safety and copyright considerations accompany Sora, including visible watermarks and opt-out options for copyrighted material, amid broader debates about training data use and trademark issues.

Rights holders now must opt in for uses of their characters (e.g., SpongeBob, Pikachu) rather than defaulting to opt-out, after a policy revision.

The opt-in policy for licensed characters is intended to address copyright concerns following engagement with rights holders.

OpenAI says it will work with unions and public figures to manage potentially inappropriate or illegal content, including deepfakes.

Earlier backlash from Hollywood, game studios, and families of deceased celebrities led OpenAI to restrict certain likeness-based features and later scale back some capabilities.

A disclosure notes that Ziff Davis, PCMag’s parent company, filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025.

The rollout has sparked controversy, including incidents of disrespectful or sensitive clips and regulatory scrutiny in Japan over manga and anime content.

There is an ongoing legal review with Cameo over the name of Sora’s flagship feature, Cameo, amid a related trademark dispute.

OpenAI has introduced character cameos with reusable avatars and plans to let rights holders monetize cameos of beloved characters.