Blade Runner 2049 Producers Launch Copyright Lawsuit Over Tesla's AI Art Use

Alcon Entertainment, producer of Blade Runner 2049, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery over the unauthorized use of AI-generated imagery from their film during Tesla's recent robotaxi presentation.

Permission Denied, Image Used Anyway

According to the October 21 filing in Los Angeles federal court, Tesla initially sought permission to use a still from the 2017 dystopian film during their "We, Robot" event. Alcon Entertainment explicitly denied this request, citing concerns about association with "Musk's extreme political and social views." However, the lawsuit alleges that Tesla proceeded to display an AI-generated version of the film's imagery during the presentation.

Controversial 11-Second Display

The disputed image, showing a figure in a coat observing a deteriorated cityscape, appeared for 11 seconds during Musk's presentation at Warner Bros. studio lot in Burbank. The October 10 event was meant to promote Tesla's "Cybercab," an autonomous taxi service. Alcon's complaint noted that Musk struggled to justify the image's relevance to his product announcement.

Brand Protection and Economic Impact

Alcon claims this unauthorized use represents "a massive economic theft," potentially worth "six figures or higher." The company expressed particular concern about how this might affect ongoing negotiations for car brand partnerships in an upcoming Blade Runner TV series. They argue that any association with Musk, given his controversial public statements and political activities, could damage their brand value.

Warner Bros.' Limited Rights

The lawsuit also targets Warner Bros. Discovery, stating that while the company maintains some rights to Blade Runner 2049, these don't extend to "livestream television feed" usage. Alcon suggests an undisclosed agreement between Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery may have influenced the decision to use the imagery.

Tesla's Cybercab, promised for release "before 2027" at under $30,000, represents Musk's latest autonomous driving promise, though Tesla has yet to achieve full self-driving capability in any of its vehicles. Neither Tesla nor Warner Bros. Discovery have responded to requests for comment.