OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman published an update describing the first major policy and product shifts for the company’s Sora video platform. According to the note, OpenAI will move away from its early “opt-out” stance and implement explicit opt-in controls so that rights-holders can specify exactly how their characters, IP, or likenesses can be used. The post also previews a creator revenue-sharing program, arguing that high quality user generated content can reward original creators while helping the platform sustain itself. The timing follows a week in which social feeds were flooded with Sora clips featuring famous characters such as Pikachu and Mario and likenesses of public figures including Michael Jackson and Bob Ross, raising fresh questions about fair use and consent. Altman says the company will add more granular controls to curb misuse while still enabling creative experimentation. He also notes that the Sora iOS app quickly climbed to the top spot in Apple’s App Store shortly after launch, beating larger incumbents despite an invitation-only rollout. For developers, brands, and creators, the move signals that OpenAI intends to bring Sora into closer alignment with the norms of licensing and partnership rather than a free-for-all. For policymakers and courts, the announcement foreshadows complex questions about compensation, permissions, and enforcement in synthetic media. You can read the full update on Altman’s blog here: Sora update #1.