Elon Musk, the outspoken CEO of Tesla, has taken a swipe at the sci-fi film ‘Blade Runner 2049’ amidst a copyright lawsuit filed against his company. In a recent statement, Musk dismissed the film, stating simply, “That movie sucked.” This comment comes as a response to a lawsuit filed by Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind ‘Blade Runner 2049’, which accuses Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery of using AI-generated imagery that closely resembles stills from the film during their “We, Robot” event promoting Tesla’s advancements in autonomous driving and robotics.
The lawsuit claims that Tesla and Warner Bros. sought permission to use imagery from the film shortly before the event but were denied by Alcon due to concerns about being perceived as endorsing Musk and Tesla. Alcon cited Musk’s often controversial behavior as a reason for their refusal. Despite this, Tesla allegedly incorporated shots from ‘Blade Runner 2049’ into a stylized image prominently displayed during the event.
Musk’s latest comment marks a shift from his stance earlier this month at the “We, Robot” event. At the time, Musk expressed his fondness for ‘Blade Runner’ but preferred a more optimistic future, deviating from the film’s dystopian setting. Interestingly, Musk has previously acknowledged his admiration for the original ‘Blade Runner’ film, even going so far as to suggest that Tesla’s stainless-steel Cybertruck would be something a character from the film would drive.
This public critique of ‘Blade Runner 2049’ by Musk adds an unexpected layer to the ongoing legal battle. The outcome of the lawsuit will determine if Tesla’s use of the AI-generated images constitutes copyright infringement and if the company is liable for damages. The case highlights the complexities of navigating intellectual property rights in an age where AI-powered image generation tools are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
