The production company behind the acclaimed sci-fi film Blade Runner 2049 has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and Tesla, accusing them of copyright infringement.
The lawsuit, filed by Alcon Entertainment on Monday, centers on Musk’s unauthorized use of imagery from the 2017 film during a recent Tesla marketing event where he unveiled the company’s new self-driving car, the Robotaxi.
Alcon Entertainment claims that Musk had initially requested permission to use AI-generated imagery resembling scenes from Blade Runner 2049 to promote the futuristic features of Tesla’s autonomous vehicle.
However, the production company denied the request due to Musk’s “extreme political and social views,” which the company alleges sometimes cross into “hate speech.”
Musk’s public endorsement of former President Donald Trump, as well as his controversial comments on various social and political issues, were cited as reasons for rejecting the request.
“He did it anyway,” the lawsuit alleges, accusing Musk of moving forward with the presentation despite the denial.
According to the complaint, during a globally livestreamed event on October 10, Musk showcased footage that closely mirrored a scene from Blade Runner 2049.
The scene in question featured an AI-generated man in a trench coat exploring the desolate ruins of Las Vegas, which the suit claims is a direct copy of a similar scene from the film starring Ryan Gosling.
“[I]t all exuded an odor of thinly contrived excuse to link Tesla’s cybercab to strong Hollywood brands at a time when Tesla and Musk are on the outs with Hollywood,” the lawsuit reads.
The complaint implies that Musk is attempting to leverage the cultural cachet of Blade Runner to boost Tesla’s image, especially as the tech mogul’s relationship with Hollywood has soured due to his political alignments and controversial views.
Adding to the claims, Musk reportedly referenced Blade Runner during his remarks at the event, saying, “You know, I love ‘Blade Runner,’ but I don’t know if we want that future. I believe we want that duster he’s wearing, but not the … bleak apocalypse.” His comment.
Along with the imagery used in the presentation, has been cited as further evidence of his deliberate attempt to associate Tesla’s product with the dystopian film.
Tesla has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit, but the complaint also implicates Warner Bros. Discovery, the studio behind Blade Runner 2049.
According to the lawsuit, Warner Bros. facilitated Musk’s use of the film’s imagery during the Tesla event.
It remains unclear what specific role Warner Bros. played in the presentation, but their involvement has placed them alongside Musk and Tesla as defendants in the case.
This isn’t the first time Elon Musk has drawn parallels between his brand and Blade Runner.
In 2022, Musk described Tesla’s futuristic Cybertruck as an “armored personnel carrier from the future — what Bladerunner would have driven.”
The association with the film’s aesthetic has long been a part of Musk’s vision for his vehicles, and he’s made no secret of his admiration for the sci-fi classic.
However, this admiration appears to have crossed into legal trouble this time around.
This lawsuit follows another recent copyright infringement case involving Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).
Music publishers sued the platform for allegedly allowing users to post copyrighted music without permission.
While much of that complaint was dismissed by a judge in March, it underscores Musk’s ongoing legal challenges related to intellectual property.
As of now, the lawsuit against Musk, Tesla, and Warner Bros. Discovery remains ongoing, and the outcome could have significant financial and reputational consequences for both Musk and Tesla
. Whether Musk’s admiration for Blade Runner 2049 will cost him or if he will be able to settle the dispute out of court is yet to be seen.
For now, this latest controversy adds another layer of complexity to the already multifaceted persona of Elon Musk.
