Just a tad earlier, the Dudesy podcast and the estate of late comedian George Carlin came to an agreement over an AI-generated parody show that included the late comic. Following the special’s January airing, “George Carlin: I’m Glad I’m Dead,” controversy erupted, leading Carlin’s estate to file a lawsuit. The producers of the podcast responded promptly to charges of copyright infringement and violating publicity rights, and in the end, they came to an arrangement to remove the contentious stuff from their websites.
Lawsuit settlement and removal of AI-generated special
George Carlin’s heirs moved quickly to file a lawsuit against the Dudesy podcast creators after the AI-generated program had been released. The show was supposed to include Carlin-esque content on modern themes like defunding the police and trans rights. According to the lawsuit, Carlin’s name, likeness, and image were used without permission in the program, in violation of both copyright laws and his publicity rights.
Immediately following the court case, podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen took down the video from their YouTube channel and deleted any mentions to Carlin from their podcast and social media pages. A permanent injunction prohibiting the re-uploading of the video and the Dudesy podcast from using Carlin’s voice, picture, or likeness on any platform is part of the settlement agreement between the parties.
The comedian’s daughter, Kelly Carlin, called the AI-generated presentation a badly done spoof put together by dishonest people in a harsh statement she delivered upon its initial broadcast. She expressed her satisfaction at having the problem resolved in a statement on Tuesday. She appreciated the speedy and peaceful resolution of the issue, and she thought the defendants did the right thing by taking down the video they had produced. It is unfortunate that this occurred at all, but this instance serves as a warning about the risks that artificial intelligence (AI) poses and the necessity for suitable safeguards that apply to all people, not just artists and creatives.
Implications and future challenges
The debate surrounding the AI-generated George Carlin special highlights more general concerns about the relationship between technology and intellectual property rights, even in light of the settlement. Concerns about the possible exploitation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment business are becoming more and more prevalent, as seen by SAG-AFTRA’s support for federal legislation that would prohibit the development of phony digital replicas without agreement.
Joshua Schiller, representing the estate, contended that the lawsuit was meant to uphold Carlin’s legacy and highlight the dangers that cutting-edge technologies represent to intellectual property. In his view, this settlement is excellent news for our clients and will establish the standard for settling cases similar to this one in the future, where the rights of a public figure or artist are violated by AI. Problems like this don’t just go away. The AI software firms whose technology is being weaponized must also take some responsibility, and it must be met with quick, decisive legal action.
In an interview, Schiller stated that he would try to get copies of the video that have been uploaded by other accounts removed from YouTube and other similar platforms. But because there is no federal right of publicity and no guarantee that such platforms would have to abide by such requests, he pointed out that there is a “gaping hole” in the legislation.
The Dudesy podcast makers and George Carlin’s heirs reached a settlement, but concerns about the wider effects of AI-generated material and intellectual property rights remain. How can players in the industry and policymakers work together to create strong barriers to the improper use of AI-generated replicas as technology develops? What steps, furthermore, may be taken to close the legal gaps that make it difficult to enforce intellectual property rights online?
