Tesla Sued by Alcon Entertainment for Allegedly Using 'Blade Runner 2049' Imagery Without Permission

Tesla Sued by Alcon Entertainment for Allegedly Using 'Blade Runner 2049' Imagery Without PermissionOn October 22nd, Alcon Entertainment, the Hollywood production company behind films like "Blade Runner 2049" and "Blindspot," filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging that Tesla used imagery from "Blade Runner 2049" without authorization during a recent product launch event.In the lawsuit, Alcon Entertainment claims that despite their prior refusal of Tesla's request, Musk's company proceeded to use the film imagery in violation of copyright

Tesla Sued by Alcon Entertainment for Allegedly Using 'Blade Runner 2049' Imagery Without Permission

On October 22nd, Alcon Entertainment, the Hollywood production company behind films like "Blade Runner 2049" and "Blindspot," filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging that Tesla used imagery from "Blade Runner 2049" without authorization during a recent product launch event.

In the lawsuit, Alcon Entertainment claims that despite their prior refusal of Tesla's request, Musk's company proceeded to use the film imagery in violation of copyright. Alcon Entertainment alleges that Tesla only contacted them for authorization on October 10th, the day of the event. Besides Musk himself, Tesla, and the event organizer, Warner Brothers Discovery, are also named as defendants.

The event, titled "We, Robot," took place earlier this month in Los Angeles to unveil Tesla's new autonomous taxi, the Cybercab. The event showcased Tesla's fully autonomous vehicle, devoid of steering wheels and pedals, and featured imagery inspired by "Blade Runner 2049," including AI-generated slides reminiscent of scenes from the film where Ryan Gosling's character gazes upon a dystopian world.

Tesla, Musk, and Warner Brothers Discovery have yet to respond to the lawsuit.

Musk has long been an admirer of the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner, and previously mentioned wanting to design a cyberpunk, Blade Runner-esque pickup truck when discussing his Tesla Cybertruck. In 2019, he shared a link to the opening sequence of "Blade Runner" on social media.

During the autonomous taxi unveiling, Musk acknowledged his fondness for "Blade Runner" but added that he wasn't sure if it was a world he wanted to live in.

Alcon Entertainment claims that Tesla's actions were clearly intentional and the inclusion of film imagery was intended to appeal to a global audience and leverage "Blade Runners brand recognition to promote Tesla vehicles. Due to concerns about potential brand harm to "Blade Runner," Alcon Entertainment had denied Teslas request to use the imagery.

Alcon Entertainment stated in the lawsuit that they do not want "Blade Runner 2049" to be associated with Musk, Tesla, or any of his companies. The company also added that the imagery may be confusing, as they are currently in talks with other automotive brands about a "Blade Runner 2099" series, which is slated to premiere on Amazon. The lawsuit alleges that the films "false association" with Tesla is now irrevocably tied to global media, and all Defendants knew this was inevitable, with the risk of further harm and confusion.

Alcon Entertainment further states in the lawsuit, "This appears to be a fabricated excuse at a time when Tesla and Musk are at odds with Hollywood to try to associate their autonomous taxi with a powerful Hollywood brand." Musk has been increasingly at odds with California in recent years, relocating Teslas headquarters to Texas.

"Blade Runner 2049", directed by Denis Villeneuve, grossed over $275 million. Alcon Entertainment is not the only one to object to Tesla referencing Hollywood elements. Earlier this month, "I, Robot" director Alex Proyas compared a screenshot from the film with a photo from Tesla's autonomous taxi unveiling on social media, writing, "Hey Elon, can I have my designs back?"

The outcome of this lawsuit remains to be seen, but it raises concerns about intellectual property protection and business competition. This "Hollywood vs. Silicon Valley" copyright battle might serve as a cautionary tale for future collaborations between tech and the arts.