Elon Musk's Tesla and Warner Bros. Discovery are facing a copyright infringement lawsuit for allegedly using a still from the film 'Blade Runner 2049' during the launch of Tesla's self-driving robotaxi, the Cybercab.
The lawsuit was filed by U.S. film production company Alcon Entertainment in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The complaint claims that during the Cybercab launch event on October 10, Musk showcased AI-generated images resembling scenes from the film without permission.
Alcon, led by Frederick W. Smith, accused the defendants of conducting 'massive economic theft' by displaying nearly identical images for 11 seconds while Musk attempted to explain their relevance to the new product.
The lawsuit states that Alcon denied permission to use imagery from the film due to Musk's controversial political views, asserting that such an affiliation could harm their brand.
Tesla aims to begin mass production of the Cybercab by 2027, targeting a price point under $30,000.