The lawsuit concerning an AI-generated imitation of the late comedian George Carlin has been settled by his estate. The Dudesy podcast, hosted by Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, released a special titled “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead” in January, featuring a sound-alike voice discussing contemporary topics using Carlin-esque material. The estate filed a lawsuit, citing copyright infringement and violation of Carlin’s publicity rights.
Following the lawsuit, the creators agreed to remove the video from their YouTube channel and podcast feed. They also committed to a permanent injunction preventing them from reuploading the video or using Carlin’s image, voice, or likeness on any platform. Kelly Carlin, George Carlin’s daughter, expressed relief that the matter was resolved swiftly and amicably.
She emphasized the importance of safeguarding against AI technologies’ misuse, highlighting the need for protections for artists and individuals. SAG-AFTRA has advocated for legislation prohibiting the creation of fake digital replicas without consent. The estate’s attorney, Joshua Schiller, stressed the significance of addressing the threats posed by emerging technologies to intellectual property.
While the initial release of the AI-generated special sparked controversy, the settlement marks a significant step in protecting artists’ rights in the face of technological advancements. Schiller intends to pursue the removal of unauthorized copies of the video from various platforms, despite existing legal gaps in federal right of publicity laws.
