Clone Apps Flood App Store Following OpenAI Sora Launch
Clone Apps Flood App Store Following OpenAI Sora Launch
After OpenAI launched its invitation-only Sora video generation mobile app, the Apple App Store was quickly inundated with counterfeit applications. These apps copied the "Sora" branding—some even using names like "Sora2"—and successfully bypassed Apple's review system to appear prominently in search results.
Fake Apps Generate $160K Amid Surging Demand
According to data from Appfigures, an application intelligence platform shared with TechCrunch, more than a dozen apps leveraging the "Sora" brand emerged shortly after OpenAI’s official release. Over half directly adopted variations like "Sora2." Notably, some were not new but rebranded older apps capitalizing on heightened search traffic.
The counterfeit apps collectively garnered 300,000 installations, with 80,000 occurring post-Sora’s launch. Revenue estimates exceed $160,000, highlighting the financial incentive behind these deceptive listings.
Apple’s Review Process Under Fire
The most downloaded clone, "Sora2 - AI Video Generator," saw installations surpass 50,000 post-launch—indicating strategic keyword targeting. Despite Apple eventually removing many clones, several persist:
- PetReels — Sora for Pets
- Viral AI Photo Maker: Vi-sora
- Sora2– Video Generator Ai (still active with 6K+ downloads)
Apple has not clarified how these apps evaded trademark checks or whether remaining clones will be purged.
Key Points:
- Over a dozen fake "Sora" apps appeared post-launch.
- Counterfeit apps earned $160K+ from 300K downloads.
- Some clones rebranded older apps to exploit search trends.
- Apple removed many but several remain live.
