The reproach for the striking similarity of the humanoid robots Optimus and the Robovan “minibus” with the images used by the creators of the 2004 film “I, Robot” was not the only one that Tesla had to face after the presentation of the Cybercab taxi. Alcon Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk for attempting to use images associated with the film Blade Runner 2049 in his presentation.
Still from Tesla presentation
This cinematic title was released by Alcon Entertainment in 2017 and was inspired by the original 1982 film, depicting a dystopian future for humanity in a post-apocalyptic world. According to the South China Morning Post, the day before the presentation of Tesla Cybercab, representatives of this automaker approached Alcon Entertainment for permission to use footage from the 2017 film in their presentation, after which they were faced with a categorical refusal. As a result, Tesla did not abandon its attempts to draw parallels with the events of the film, using in its presentation an image created by a generative artificial intelligence system and reminiscent of a scene from the film Blade Runner 2049.
Still from the movie “Blade Runner 2049”
Even a fleeting demonstration of this slide in a Tesla presentation was enough for representatives of the Hollywood studio Alcon Entertainment to accuse Musk and his company of misuse of intellectual property. The studio’s hostility towards Elon Musk, judging by the wording used in the text of the statement of claim, is due to his political activity. The filmmakers would like to avoid associating this work with Tesla products and Musk’s personality, but the company’s actions allegedly create such a connection against the wishes of the copyright holder.
One of the defendants in the lawsuit is the Warner Bros studio, where the Tesla Cybercab presentation was held. Alcon Entertainment itself, as it became known from the statement of claim, is negotiating with other automakers about the use of their trademarks during the filming of the series Blade Runner 2099, which will be shown by Amazon. Tesla’s “amateur activity” in this sense is inappropriate and harms the film studio’s business, as explained by its representatives.