A film production company involved in the making of “Blade Runner 2049” has filed a lawsuit against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for allegedly using an AI-generated image reminiscent of a scene from the science fiction movie to promote Tesla’s new robotaxis. Alcon Entertainment claims that Tesla utilised artificial intelligence to create the image without obtaining any permissions. The incident took place during the unveiling of Tesla’s robotaxi at a live-streamed event held at a Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank, California on Oct. 10.
During the event, Musk arrived on stage in one of the company’s “Cybercabs” and made references to the “Blade Runner” franchise in his speech. A screen displayed an image featuring a man in a long coat overlooking an orange-tinted ruined city, resembling a scene where actor Ryan Gosling arrives in Las Vegas in the movie. Musk expressed his fondness for “Blade Runner” but stated a preference for the character’s duster rather than the bleak future it portrayed.
Alcon claims that despite their refusal to grant permission, Tesla and Musk went ahead and used the image without consent. The lawsuit, filed in a Southern California federal court, alleges that the defendants had sought permission beforehand but were turned down by Alcon. Neither Tesla nor Warner Bros., who hosted the event and distributed the movie, responded immediately to requests for comments on the matter.
In addition to Tesla, Alcon is also suing Warner Bros. for their involvement in the event. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold as both parties navigate the complexities of intellectual property rights and usage permissions. The dispute underscores the importance of obtaining proper consent in the age of rapidly evolving technology and AI-generated content.