Los Angeles: An legal action commenced by the estate of George Carlin asserts that a media entity created a falsified hour-long comedy special using artificial intelligence to mimic the comedic style and content of the late iconic stand-up comedian.
Filed in federal court in Los Angeles, the lawsuit aims to promptly remove the comedy special titled “George Carlin: I’m Happy he’s Dead,” which features commentary on current events and endeavors to replicate the essence of the renowned performer who passed away in 2008.
Characterizing the production as “an inadequately executed imitation orchestrated by unscrupulous individuals looking to profit from the deep connection my father established with his loyal fanbase,” Carlin’s daughter, Kelly, voiced her disapproval.
The defendants implicated in the lawsuit, which alleges infringement on Carlin’s publicity and copyrights, consist of the estate and its representative, Jerold Hamza, along with Dudesy and radio personalities May Sasso and Chad Kultgen.
The legal grievance contends that none of the accused parties had obtained permission to use Carlin’s likeness for the AI-generated “George Carlin: I’m Happy he’s Dead” endeavor.
Despite the legal action, the defendants have yet to secure legal counsel or address the lawsuit, and efforts to contact them for statements have been fruitless.
The AI platform purportedly utilized by Dudesy asserts to have scrutinized fifty years of Carlin’s material to imitate his voice, style, and topical interests in the comedy special unveiled on YouTube on January 9. Nevertheless, doubts have been raised by viewers regarding the authenticity of the content and its adherence to Carlin’s rights.
Apart from the contentious comedy special, the defendants also introduced a radio program featuring conversations about the AI-generated Carlin persona.
Kelly Carlin turned to Twitter on January 10 to underscore that her father’s artistic legacy, molded by his distinct life encounters and creativity, cannot be duplicated by any system. She encouraged audiences to cherish Carlin’s genuine work and recommended exploring his extensive array of performances.
This lawsuit signifies the commencement of a sequence of expected legal disputes designed to tackle the unauthorized utilization of celebrity images and personas, particularly in the face of the challenges posed by AI technology.
Attorney Josh Schiller, representing the plaintiffs, stressed that the concern surpasses AI misapplication, underscoring the significance of upholding intellectual property rights and ethical standards in creative pursuits.
