The initial limited availability of the official app to certain countries and the pull of the name of the new generative video model facilitated the deception, channeling downloads into clones that presented themselves as the original experience at the stroke of a keyword.
Wave of imitations in the Apple store
Data from Appfigures points to over a dozen “Sora” branded titles released right after debut, with more than half leveraging “Sora 2” in the name to capture search traffic. Together, these clones accumulated around 300.000 installs, more than 80.000 of which came after the official launch, while the real app surpassed one million downloads in record time.
Many impostors were not new: Existing apps were hastily rebranded and updated to ride the name. “Sora 2 – AI Video Generator” stood out, surpassing 50.000 installs, and “Sora 2 – Video Generator Ai”, with over 6.000. Other attempts such as “PetReels – Sora for Pets” or “Viral AI Photo Maker: Vi-sora” barely registered any traction. The global takings for the fakes exceeded $160.000 in a short period.
How the fake 'Sora' operated
Those responsible used classic methods of confusion: practically identical names, misuse of OpenAI logos, ambiguous descriptions and promises of capabilities that were not delivered.
- Adoption of mimetic names such as “Sora 2: AI Video Generator” to capture clicks.
- Unauthorized use of the OpenAI trademark and logo in icons and screenshots.
- Aggressive monetization with “free” trials that led to recurring subscriptions.
- Misleading advertising citing other models, such as “Google's Veo 3”, to appear more powerful.
The initial search push and the relevance of keywords related to “Sora 2” They played into the hands of the clones, elevating them in search results and featured lists where many users were guided by the name and icon.
What Apple did and what remains to be done
Apple responded with a phased cleanup: removed the most obvious cases, forced name changes and refined searches and associated rankings. However, some apps remained accessible for a time, creating additional confusion among users.
- Delisting Removal blatantly fraudulent.
- Obligation to rename titles that used registered trademarks.
- Review of results to reduce the keyword lure.
The doubt remains How these clones passed the review When asked about this matter and the complete withdrawal of the remnants, the company did not comment before the closing of this report.
Risks to users and effect on the ecosystem
The impact is not trivial: unexpected subscriptions, intrusive permissions, and a loss of trust in app marketplaces. For the developer community, the signal is clear: more brand protection and control of the official channel, or noise will prevail.
- Carelessness when downloading can end in expensive recurring charges.
- Low-quality apps tend to ask for more permits than necessary, opening the door to risks.
At the sectoral level, the episode rekindles the dilemma between speed and safety: innovate without shielding the brand and channels It leaves gaps that third parties exploit to monetize the confusion.
How to identify legitimate apps and avoid fraud
There are simple checks that save you trouble: check the publisher, go to official sources and report immediately any obvious clone that appears in the store.
- Search “Sora by OpenAI” and confirm that the developer is OpenAI.
- Enter from official links from the OpenAI site or accounts.
- Report the impostors directly from the App Store listing.
Lessons for brands and product teams
For startups and developers, the case provides practical lessons: trademark registration and defense Before launch, coordinated deployment strategy and direct communication with the community.
- Register and protect trademarks in a pre-launch.
- Plan a global exit or in phases with clear signals to the user.
- Maintain communication channels clear and verifiable with the audience.
What happened with Sora imitators shows how, in the face of high-profile releases, clones that capitalize on the buzz proliferate: Hundreds of thousands of downloads, tens of thousands of dollars, and a corrective response from Apple which, although it halted the trend, comes with a reminder to take extreme precautions when downloading and to protect the product identity from day one.