Tesla, Warner Bros. Secure Partial Win in Blade Runner 2049 Copyright Case

Tesla and Warner Bros. achieved a partial legal victory in a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Alcon Entertainment, related to the use of imagery from 'Blade Runner 2049' during the unveiling of Tesla's Cybercab. A federal judge dismissed several of Alcon's trademark claims, citing no likelihood of consumer confusion, but allowed copyright infringement claims to proceed. The lawsuit alleges that an AI-generated image used by Tesla closely resembled a key scene from the film, with Judge George Wu noting that Tesla had not adequately addressed claims of 'literal copying.' Additionally, the judge suggested that a settlement might be in the best interest of both parties, as Alcon is permitted to amend its lawsuit. The controversy stemmed from Tesla's request to use official imagery, which Alcon denied due to concerns over Elon Musk's public image and implied endorsement. The case highlights ongoing tensions between intellectual property rights and emerging technologies like AI.