Elon Musk sued for using Blade Runner-style images

The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court on 21st October, centres around the unauthorised use of imagery from the 2017 sci-fi film. According to the complaint, Tesla utilised an AI-generated image that closely resembled a scene from Blade Runner 2049 during its ‘We, Robot’ event, which was held earlier in October to unveil its autonomous ‘cybercab’.

The imagery in question, used as a backdrop for Musk's presentation, depicted a trench-coated figure standing amid the ruins of a dystopian city, a scene strikingly similar to those found in Blade Runner 2049. Alcon contends that this visual was not only taken directly from the film but was also digitally manipulated using AI tools to avoid licensing fees. The production company argues that Tesla’s use of the image falsely suggested an affiliation with the Blade Runner franchise, potentially misleading the public into believing that Tesla had obtained the rights to use elements from the film for promotional purposes.

Alcon had previously been approached by Warner Bros. Discovery, which sought clearance for using Blade Runner imagery in connection with the event. However, the request was denied, prompting Musk to resort to creating AI-modified visuals instead, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that this move not only disregarded Alcon's copyright protections but also compromised ongoing negotiations for future Blade Runner brand partnerships, including a forthcoming television series, Blade Runner 2099.

The lawsuit aims to secure unspecified damages from the defendants and seeks a court order to halt any further distribution of the contested promotional materials. It underscores broader concerns about the use of AI in creative industries, particularly regarding copyright infringement and intellectual property rights.