Innovabble Posted Tuesday at 05:24 AM Share Posted Tuesday at 05:24 AM Image: Blade Runner 2049 (Warner Bros Pictures)  In a high-stakes legal battle highlighting the growing tension between Hollywood and Silicon Valley, Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind Blade Runner 2049, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). The dispute centers on Teslaâs alleged unauthorized use of AI-generated images that closely mirror scenes from the acclaimed sci-fi film during the launch of their Cybercab robotaxi. The controversy ignited during Teslaâs October 10, 2024, presentation at WBDâs Burbank studio lot. During the event, Musk showcased an AI-generated image depicting a trench-coated figure surveying a dystopian cityscape bathed in misty orange light. The image, marked with âNot This,â appeared to deliberately reference an iconic sequence featuring Ryan Goslingâs character exploring a ruined Las Vegas in the film.  The lawsuit reveals a complex web of attempted negotiations. Prior to the event, Musk had approached WBD seeking permission to use actual film stills. When WBD reached out to Alcon for clearance, the production company declined, citing concerns about Muskâs âextreme political and social viewsâ and potential confusion with their upcoming TV series Blade Runner 2099. Instead of respecting this decision, Tesla allegedly proceeded to create AI-generated images that closely mimicked the filmâs distinctive visual style. Alconâs legal action seeks unspecified monetary damages and an injunction to prevent further use of the AI-generated images. The lawsuit alleges multiple violations, including direct, vicarious, and contributory copyright infringement, as well as false endorsement. WBD, the domestic distributor for Blade Runner 2049, is named as a defendant for hosting Tesla's robotaxi announcement at their Burbank lot and allegedly facilitating the unauthorized partnership. While WBD held limited clip licensing rights, these did not extend to Tesla's livestream event. Moreover, Alcon emphasizes that WBD does not own the film's copyright and was legally required to obtain Alcon's permission before allowing any use of the film's imagery in Tesla's presentationâa permission that was never granted.  Andrew Kosove, Alcon Entertainmentâs CEO, emphasized the broader implications of the case, stating that âany prudent brand considering any Tesla partnership has to take Muskâs massively amplified, highly politicized, capricious and arbitrary behavior, which sometimes veers into hate speech, into account.â This case represents a landmark moment in the ongoing debate over AI-generated content and copyright protection, particularly as tech companies increasingly push the boundaries of intellectual property rights in their marketing strategies. What do you think Elon Musk will tweet about this lawsuitâanother meme, or will he try to defend his love for Blade Runner?  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/blade-runner-2049-producer-sues-elon-musk-tesla-warner-bros-discovery-1236040228/ https://variety.com/2024/biz/news/blade-runner-2049-lawsuit-elon-musk-tesla-warner-bros-discovery-1236184961/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2024/10/21/blade-runner-2049-producers-sue-elon-musk-tesla-over-robotaxi-ai-images/ https://www.ign.com/articles/elon-musk-warner-bros-sued-by-blade-runner-2049-producers-over-ai-generated-robotaxi-image-it-says-was-stolen-from-the-movie  Image: Elon Musk (FrĂŠdĂŠric Legrand | Dreamstime.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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