Alcon Entertainment, the studio behind the film "Blade Runner 2049," has filed a lawsuit against Tesla, Elon Musk, and Warner Bros. Discovery for unauthorized use of imagery from the movie during a live-streamed Cybercab unveiling event. The complaint alleges that Tesla used images created with artificial intelligence that closely resembled scenes from the film, despite Alcon's refusal to grant permission for their use.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, claims that the unauthorized use of the imagery during the event, as well as its subsequent sharing by Musk and others, resulted in millions of total views. Alcon asserts that it has invested significant resources in building the "Blade Runner" brand and that the misappropriation of its imagery by Tesla and Musk has caused financial harm.
Furthermore, Alcon states that the use of the imagery falsely implied a relationship between the studio and Tesla, which it wanted to avoid due to concerns about Musk's controversial behavior and views. The lawsuit takes personal shots at Musk, calling him "problematic" and highlighting his polarizing political and social views.
In response to the lawsuit, neither Tesla nor the defendants' attorneys have provided comments to FOX Business. Alcon's statement emphasizes the potential confusion among its brand partners and customers due to the unauthorized use of the imagery from "Blade Runner 2049."
The lawsuit underscores the complex legal and ethical considerations surrounding intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, as well as the challenges of navigating partnerships with high-profile figures like Elon Musk. The outcome of the case will likely have implications for the broader debate surrounding artistic ownership and the use of AI-generated content in commercial settings.