Sora Copycats Still Flood the App Store
▼ Summary
– Following OpenAI’s Sora app launch, the App Store was flooded with fake apps using the “Sora” or “Sora 2” brand names to capitalize on its popularity.
– Over a dozen Sora-branded apps went live on the App Store, with more than half specifically using “Sora 2” in their names.
– These impostor apps collectively garnered around 300,000 installs, with over 80,000 occurring after the official Sora app’s release.
– Many fake apps were updated just after the official launch to change their names and exploit consumer searches, earning over $160,000 in total.
– Apple removed many of the fraudulent apps, but some Sora-branded apps remained available on the App Store at the time of writing.
The launch of OpenAI’s official Sora mobile application triggered an immediate and overwhelming surge of copycat apps within Apple’s App Store. Numerous fraudulent applications, falsely labeling themselves as “Sora” or “Sora 2,” appeared shortly after the genuine app’s release. These impostors successfully navigated Apple’s App Review process, securing public listings despite using a trademarked and widely recognized brand name.
Research from the app intelligence firm Appfigures identified more than a dozen of these counterfeit apps that went live following the official launch. Over half specifically incorporated “Sora 2” into their titles. Notably, many were not new creations; some had existed on the store for months or even a year under different names, only to be rebranded to exploit the Sora hype. These apps, also present on Google Play, have amassed approximately 300,000 total installations, with over 80,000 occurring after Sora’s official debut. For context, OpenAI reported one million downloads for its legitimate app.
A common tactic involved these apps pushing out updates immediately after Sora’s launch, primarily to change their names and capitalize on user searches. It remains unclear how they initially bypassed Apple’s review safeguards, though the company has since removed a significant number. The most successful imposter, titled “Sora 2 – AI Video Generator,” was a blatant attempt to manipulate search results and garnered more than 50,000 installs post-launch.
Despite these takedowns, a handful of Sora-branded applications persist on the App Store. One example, “PetReels , Sora for Pets,” has only managed a few hundred downloads. Another, “Viral AI Photo Maker: Vi-sora,” awkwardly attempts to incorporate the Sora name but has similarly failed to gain momentum. A slightly more successful app, “Sora 2 – Video Generator Ai,” has accumulated over 6,000 downloads and continues to attract users.
Collectively, these fraudulent applications have generated revenue exceeding $160,000, a substantial sum given their relatively brief availability. Apple did not provide a comment regarding how these apps were approved or if the remaining Sora-branded listings will be removed.
(Source: TechCrunch)
