George Carlin's estate has it He filed a lawsuit Against Dudesy, the media company behind the recent widely acclaimed hour-long AI-generated comedy special “George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead,” which virtually showcased the late comedian's voice and comedic style that allegedly Created by The chatbot was trained by Carlin's own materials.
The plaintiff, who filed in federal court in California on Thursday, is seeking a court order to immediately remove the special, as well as an unspecified amount in damages. The lawsuit alleges that the company violated copyright by using Carlin's materials to train the chatbot without obtaining permission or licensing.
At the beginning of the special, which remains available to watch on YouTube for now, an approximation of Carlin's voice is heard, noting that he “listens to all of George Carlin's material and does my best to imitate his voice, tempo and attitude as he does” and also the topic that I think he would have raised His interest today.” In doing so, the chatbot created unauthorized copies of Carlin's copyrighted works, the lawsuit alleges. The plaintiff also claims the content damages the late comedian's reputation and objects to the recast of Carlin's voice used to promote the video, calling the special “an accidental theft of the work of a great American artist.”
Dudesy podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen are named as defendants, along with twenty John Does — five content creators associated with the AI program and 15 individuals associated with “creating, producing, and sponsoring” the special.
“My father was a legendary comedian and a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and his legacy is the body of work he left behind — his actual shows, albums, and books. I understand and share the desire for more George Carlin. I, too, want more time with my father. The comedian's daughter wrote, “But it is ridiculous to announce that he was brought to life using artificial intelligence,” Kelly Carlin said in a statement announcing the lawsuit. “The George Carlin in this video is not the beautiful human being who defined his generation and raised him with love. It is a poorly executed replica.” Compiled by unscrupulous individuals to take advantage of the extraordinary goodwill my father has created with his adoring fan base.
The case represents one of the first major cases of performers or their estates seeking legal action against the creators of AI-generated entertainment – a growing concern across the entertainment industry.
“AI may be the most important technology invented in generations, and therefore requires a great deal of control and restraint to ensure it is not abused,” attorney Josh Schiller of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP said in a statement. “We risk it becoming a tool that allows bad faith actors to displace creative expression, exploit the existing work of creators, and get rich at the expense of others. This issue is not just about AI, it is about humans using AI to break the law, infringe on intellectual property rights, And violation of public morals.
