“The Estate of George Carlin Sues Media Company Over AI-Generated Comedy Special”
In a significant legal development, the estate of legendary stand-up comedian George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against Dudesy, a podcast outlet, for creating a fake hour-long comedy special using artificial intelligence to emulate Carlin’s style and material.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, demands that Dudesy immediately remove the audio special titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” which features a synthesized version of Carlin delivering commentary on current events. Carlin’s daughter, Kelly Carlin, condemned the work as “a poorly-executed facsimile cobbled together by unscrupulous individuals to capitalize on the extraordinary goodwill my father established with his adoring fanbase.”
The lawsuit alleges violations of Carlin’s right of publicity and copyright, with the Carlin estate and its executor, Jerold Hamza, listed as plaintiffs. Dudesy, alongside podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, are named as defendants. The lawsuit asserts that the defendants did not have permission to use Carlin’s likeness or copyrighted materials.
This legal action is part of a growing trend of prominent cases addressing the use of celebrity images and likenesses, particularly in conjunction with artificial intelligence. It also ties into the broader debate about the use of AI-generated content, which has recently been a concern in the Entertainment industry.
Josh Schiller, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, emphasized that the case “is not just about AI, it’s about the humans that use AI to violate the law, infringe on intellectual property rights, and flout common decency.”
This lawsuit is likely to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal and ethical discussions surrounding AI-generated content and the protection of intellectual property in the digital age. As the legal proceedings unfold, it is expected to draw significant attention and could set a precedent for future cases involving similar issues.
Read More Entertainment News
