Judge Allows Blade Runner 2049 Copyright Claims Against Tesla to Proceed

Trademark claims have been dismissed, but allegations of unlicensed AI-generated imagery remain central to the ongoing legal battle.

Alcon Entertainment's lawsuit against Tesla and Warner Bros. centers on alleged copyright infringement involving Blade Runner 2049 imagery used in Tesla's promotional materials.
Judge George Wu dismissed trademark claims, including allegations under the Lanham Act, but allowed copyright infringement claims to move forward.
Tesla is accused of using an AI image generator to create promotional content after a last-minute denial to use Blade Runner 2049 visuals just hours before the event.
Warner Bros. was cleared of direct responsibility for Tesla's actions, though a contributory infringement claim against the studio remains under review.
The court has ordered mediation for the narrowed lawsuit, marking a critical step in addressing legal questions about AI-generated content and copyright law.