Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery are currently embroiled in a legal dispute regarding allegations of copyright infringement connected to the iconic film Blade Runner 2049. The legal action was initiated by Alcon Entertainment, the production company responsible for the 2017 dystopian film, which filed a lawsuit on October 21 in a federal court in Los Angeles, California.
The crux of the lawsuit centers around claims that Tesla, Musk, and Warner Bros. utilized a still image from the film without securing proper permission during a promotional event aimed at showcasing Tesla's new robotaxi concept. Alcon Entertainment asserted that it had rejected an initial request from Tesla to use the image, as it sought to maintain a clear separation between the film's brand and Musk's political and social ideologies.
The lawsuit further alleges that the involved parties resorted to using an AI-generated imitation image that bore a striking resemblance to the original still from Blade Runner 2049. This questionable image was reportedly displayed for a duration of 11 seconds during a presentation given by Musk on October 10 at the Warner Bros.
studio lot located in Burbank, California. Musk attempted to illustrate the relevance of the image to Tesla's new product, although the context appeared awkward in the presentation. In the complaint, Alcon labeled the utilization of the AI image as a substantial economic theft, forecasting that the market value associated with this brand affiliation is no less than six figures.
Furthermore, the lawsuit posits that this unauthorized usage has hindered potential car brand partnerships for an upcoming Blade Runner television series, raising concerns about the potential impact on the film's reputation due to its association with Musk's controversial standing. Alcon emphasized the necessity for any brand contemplating a partnership with Tesla to carefully evaluate Musk's highly politicized and at times contentious behavior.
The entertainment company further expressed doubts regarding the agreement that may have existed between Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery, speculating that it could have included stipulations requiring Tesla to link its Cybercab brand with esteemed Warner Bros. productions. During the aforementioned event, Musk made an announcement regarding the forthcoming availability of the Cybercab, which is projected to launch before 2027 with a purchase price below $30,000.
Despite Musk's bold claims, it is noteworthy that Tesla has yet to deliver a fully autonomous vehicle capable of operating independently of human intervention. As of now, Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery have not issued statements addressing these serious accusations..