George Carlin’s Estate Sues AI-Generated Comedy Special
The estate of late comedian George Carlin has sued the creators of an AI-generated special with unauthorized use of Carlin’s work and likeness.
The AI-generated comedy special that mimics the late comedian George Carlin's distinctive voice and comedic style is in a legal dispute. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, targets the creators of "George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead," an hour-long special that used an AI chatbot trained on Carlin's extensive body of work. This legal action is notable as it represents one of the first instances where the estate of a deceased celebrity has challenged the unlicensed use of their likeness and work in AI-generated content.
Kelly Carlin, George Carlin's daughter and an author and producer, is at the forefront of this lawsuit. She emphasized the importance of setting boundaries in the use of AI technology, especially concerning the unauthorized replication of a celebrity's likeness and work. The complaint alleges that the creators of the special, including Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen of the Dudesy podcast, did not seek permission or offer compensation for using Carlin's work and likeness.
The special itself, a product of the "Dudsey AI" program, utilized Carlin's routines to craft a script that has the AI-generated Carlin tackling modern topics. However, the lawsuit claims this was done through the unauthorized use of Carlin's copyrighted works. Additionally, the estate contests the use of Carlin's name and likeness for promotional purposes, arguing that the special's value relies heavily on its association with George Carlin and lacks independent artistic merit.
Jerry Hamza, Carlin’s longtime manager and the executor of his estate, and intellectual property lawyer Joshua Schiller, are leading the legal battle. They assert that the creators used Carlin's reputation, work, voice, and likeness without permission, raising significant concerns under both California and federal statutes.
The lawsuit highlights the absence of federal laws specifically addressing the use of AI in mimicking a person's likeness or voice. In response to concerns raised by such uses, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers recently introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting the unauthorized creation and distribution of digital replicas. This bill, if passed, could significantly impact the landscape of AI-generated content, setting a precedent for future cases involving the use of celebrities' likenesses and voices.
As this legal battle unfolds, it represents a significant moment for the entertainment industry in grappling with the implications of AI technology and underscores the ongoing debate about the ethical boundaries in AI application, especially in replicating human creativity and personality posthumously.