Alcon Entertainment, the studio behind Blade Runner 2049, has filed a lawsuit against Tesla and Warner Bros Discovery. The complaint was filed on October 21, 2024, in California federal court for violations of US copyright law.
The lawsuit details how Tesla used AI-generated images to promote its new autonomous car "Cybercab" mimicking scenes from Blade Runner 2049. It's contending that Tesla is implying an affiliation with the franchise and engaging in "false endorsement.".
The lawsuit further claims that Warner Bros, the distributor of Blade Runner 2049, had previously requested to use the movie images for the unveiling of Tesla’s robotaxi on October 10, which Alcon refused. However, Tesla went ahead, creating images made by AI, which bore the style of the film for the event.
The misappropriation also caused financial harm and confusion among branding partners according to the company's legal team. It caused significant harm as Alcon's next Blade Runner 2099 series is set to launch soon on Amazon Prime. No damages were listed in the complaint.
However, it is important to note that Alcon has invested hundreds of millions in the development of the Blade Runner franchise.
Tesla and Warner Bros haven't commented on the lawsuit yet.