‘Blade Runner’ Producer Slaps Elon Musk With Massive Lawsuit

Tesla, Elon Musk and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing a copyright infringement lawsuit from Alcon Entertainment for alleged unauthorized use of AI-generated images from “Blade Runner 2049” at a recent Tesla event.

The lawsuit claims that Musk and Tesla requested permission to use a still from the film during an Oct. 10 presentation showcasing their Cybercab concept. After Alcon explicitly denied this request, the defendants allegedly displayed an AI-generated version of the film’s footage for 11 seconds during the event.

Growing legal battles over AI

Similar lawsuits highlight the growing tensions surrounding the use of AI. The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft in December 2023 for allegedly training AI models on copyrighted content without permission. Authors including George RR Martin and John Grisham have filed suit against Meta for using their books to train its AI system.

Getty Images has launched a lawsuit against Stability AI for allegedly deleting millions of copyrighted photos. Comedian Bev Standing sued TikTok for using her voice in its text-to-speech feature without consent. Comedian Sarah Silverman has joined other authors in suing Meta and OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement in AI training.

Concerns Related to Brand Associations

Alcon says this unauthorized use constitutes “massive economic theft” and could harm ongoing negotiations with other automotive brands regarding the upcoming “Blade Runner 2099” television series.

The production company has expressed strong objections to any connection between its brand and Musk. The lawsuit cites his controversial public statements and political affiliations as primary concerns.

“Any prudent brand considering a partnership with Tesla must take into account Musk’s massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious, and arbitrary behavior,” the lawsuit says.

Musk’s public image has attracted attention for his support of Donald Trump and his social media posts about migrants and election systems.

Tesla’s Robotaxi projects

The alleged copyright infringement occurred during the unveiling of Tesla’s Cybercab, a robot taxi service vehicle planned for production by 2027 with a price tag below $30,000.

Despite Musk’s decade-long promises of autonomous vehicles, Tesla has yet to produce a car that operates safely without human intervention. This assessment raises questions about the company’s ambitious timetable for the Cybercab project.

Legal implications

This case highlights the growing tensions between intellectual property rights and the use of AI technology. As companies increasingly use AI-generated content, the lawsuit could set important precedents for protecting creative works.