The estate of the late comedian George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against podcast outlet Dudesy over a fake comedy special that allegedly uses artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate Carlin’s style and material. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, seeks an immediate takedown of the audio special titled George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead, which features a synthesis of Carlin delivering commentary on current events. Carlin’s daughter, Kelly Carlin, expressed her disappointment, stating that the special was a poorly executed facsimile created by individuals seeking to exploit her father’s fanbase.
The lawsuit, brought by the Carlin estate and executor Jerold Hamza, accuses Dudesy, along with podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen, of violating Carlin’s right of publicity and copyright. The suit claims that none of the defendants had the necessary permission or license to use Carlin’s likeness or copyrighted materials.
The special, posted on YouTube on January 9th, starts with a voiceover claiming that the AI engine used by Dudesy listened to 50 years’ worth of Carlin’s material and attempted to imitate his voice, cadence, attitude, and subject matter. While some listeners have questioned the validity of the AI-generated content, the plaintiffs argue that if it indeed used Carlin’s copyrighted material, it constitutes a violation of his rights.
The lawsuit is one of the early cases addressing the regenerated use of celebrity images and likenesses, an issue that has gained significant attention since last year’s Hollywood writers and actors strikes. Attorney Josh Schiller, representing the plaintiffs, emphasizes that the case is about not just AI but also the humans who employ AI to infringe on intellectual property rights and disregard common decency.
As the legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how this case will affect the future use of AI-generated content featuring deceased celebrities. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for intellectual property rights and the ethical boundaries of AI technology.
