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Elon Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing copyright allegations from Alcon Entertainment over the use of an image from Blade Runner 2049 for promoting Tesla’s “Cybercab.” Alcon’s lawsuit argues that, despite explicit refusal, the image was used in a slightly altered form for a Tesla event at the Warner Bros.’ studio. Alcon states this action has interrupted potential partnerships and devalued the brand, calling it ‘economic theft.’ It also criticizes Musk’s controversial behavior as troublesome for potential brand associates.

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Elon Musk, Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing copyright allegations over the movie Blade Runner 2049. The producer of the movie, Alcon Entertainment, lodged a lawsuit recently, stating that the trio asked to use a still image from the film for an event to sell Tesla’s robotaxis, which was turned down.

Tesla was keen to use the image to promote its autonomous car, called the “Cybercab”, that would work as a taxi, at an event at Warner Bros.’ studio lot in Burbank. Alcon wasn’t cool with it as it doesn’t want the movie connected to Musk’s controversial political and social views. Despite the refusal, Alcon claims they still used an image that was eerily similar and had probably been concocted by AI.

The legal row adds to recent issues around AI imagery and alleged copyright breaches involving AI companies using such material to train their models. Alcon states that Tesla used a somewhat doctored screen still from the film that showed a dude in a coat looking at a ruined city. The still was included in Musk’s pitch at the event for a whole 11 seconds.

Alcon bashed Musk for clumsily explaining why he was showing a Blade Runner 2049 still when he was supposed to be talking about his new product. The scandal involving Warner Bros. Discovery is that they only have some limited rights to Blade Runner 2049, and they definitely don’t have rights for a livestream TV feed.

Alcon was tight-lipped about the damages it was asking for, but mentioned that the use of the AI image was a huge economic theft, and it values the brand partnership at six figures, at the very least. The claims have kind of thrown a wrench in potential car brand partnerships for an upcoming Blade Runner TV series and has raised concerns about associated the movie with “the troublesome Musk”.

For any brand mulling a partnership with Tesla, it would need to consider Musk’s highly publicized, unpredictable behavior, which at times borders on hate speech, Alcon claims. Musk isn’t coy about his political and social beliefs and has attended rallies for Donald Trump. He has also been criticized for allowing false info to circulate and for spreading conspiracy theories.

Alcon is strongly against any affiliation with Musk, Tesla or any of Musk’s companies due to these reasons. The company is also suspicious that an agreement between Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery requires Tesla to link its Cybercab with Warner Bros. movies.

Musk has pledged that the Cybercab will be available before 2027 and will cost under $30,000. He’s been vocal about Tesla making a self-driving car for years, but so far none of their vehicles can operate without a human on board.

Source: Cointelegraph