‘Blade Runner 2049’ Producer Settles Lawsuit Against Warner Bros. Discovery Over AI Images

Alcon Entertainment, the production company behind *Blade Runner 2049*, has settled its claim against Warner Bros. Discovery over AI-generated promotional imagery shown at Tesla’s 2024 robotaxi unveiling. The dispute matters because it is part of Alcon’s wider copyright case against Tesla and Elon Musk, and concerns whether AI-generated images can infringe copyright by copying a film’s visuals.

The settlement terms were not disclosed, and Alcon continues to pursue Tesla and Musk. Alcon alleged that an image of a figure surveying a ruined city evoked a scene featuring Ryan Gosling’s character in the film, and objected to the film being associated with Musk. A direct infringement claim against Warner Bros. Discovery was dismissed after the court found the studio was not responsible for overseeing Tesla’s presentation; the parties later moved to dismiss the remaining claims against it. Tesla and Musk argue the image’s use was fair use.