Despite claims that the special was AI-generated, a representative for Dudesy host Will Sasso admitted that it was actually written by a human. However, the lawsuit will proceed as the Carlin estate argues that even a human-written special is guilty of unauthorized use of Carlin's name and likeness for promotional purposes. The lawsuit asks for the removal and destruction of any copies of the special and for Dudesy to pay punitive damages.
Key takeaways:
- The estate of George Carlin has filed a lawsuit against the comedy podcast Dudesy for an hour-long comedy special sold as an AI-generated impression of the late comedian, which was actually written by a human.
- The lawsuit argues that the special involves making "unauthorized copies" of "Carlin's original, copyrighted routines" without permission to generate a Carlin stand-up comedy routine, which harms his reputation and detracts from the value of his works.
- The use of copyrighted material in AI training models is a contentious and unsettled area of law in the AI field, with media organizations arguing against AI makers' claims that training on news content was legal under a "fair use" exemption.
- The lawsuit also accuses the creators of unauthorized use of Carlin's name and likeness for promotional purposes, arguing that this creates a harmful association between the Dudesy podcast and Carlin that could damage his legacy and the value of his real work.