Tesla CEO Elon Musk is facing legal action after being accused of using AI-generated imagery resembling scenes from the movie Blade Runner 2049 without permission during Tesla’s “We, Robot” presentation. The lawsuit, filed by Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind Blade Runner 2049, alleges that Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) violated the company’s copyright.
Alcon claims that Tesla used an AI image generator to create promotional art for the event, which closely resembled stills from the 2017 sci-fi movie. The lawsuit further reveals that Tesla and WBD had initially requested permission to use imagery from Blade Runner 2049 just hours before the event, held on October 10th on the Warner Bros. lot in California. However, Alcon, which owns the copyright, refused the request, citing concerns about Musk’s controversial public persona.
“Alcon did not want Blade Runner 2049 associated with Elon Musk, Tesla, or any of his companies due to his highly politicized and unpredictable behavior,” the company stated in its lawsuit.
Despite the refusal, Tesla allegedly proceeded to create and display a “lightly stylized” version of the film’s imagery at the event. During the presentation, Musk explicitly mentioned the Blade Runner franchise while discussing futuristic themes, and the event’s livestream reportedly featured an image of a man in a dystopian landscape, a scene reminiscent of the movie.
The lawsuit also points to a potential undisclosed agreement between Tesla and WBD that may have allowed the unauthorized use of the imagery. Alcon is seeking damages, although the specific amount has not been disclosed.
Alcon’s legal filing underscores that Musk, Tesla, and WBD knowingly used the unauthorized imagery for promotional purposes, in violation of copyright law.
