“Blade Runner” reference: Lawsuit filed against Tesla

The reference to the movie “Blade Runner 2049” included in the robotics presentation presented by the American electric car company Tesla has legal repercussions. Production company Alcon Entertainment has filed a lawsuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the Hollywood studio Warner Bros., where the show was made.

The sequel to “Blade Runner,” released in 2017, depicts an apocalyptic world with environmental catastrophe and the collapse of civilization. At the same time, it features a self-driving vehicle with artificial intelligence.

Musk said at the event that he loved the movie, but it was not the future he wanted to live in. A photo emerged showing a man wearing a long coat looking into a sandstorm. Behind him you can see a skyline of skyscrapers against an orange sky. Alkon saw this as a conscious attempt to create a connection in the audience's minds with a similar image from the film – which the production company had refused to use.

Alcon holds the rights, while Warner Bros. Distributed by “Blade Runner 2049”. According to the film company, Tesla asked just a few hours before the event if they could use the famous image in their presentation. Alkon refused, the lawsuit says. As justification, Alkon points to Musk's political activities and behavior, “which sometimes veers into hate speech.”