Last year, Hollywood screenwriters went on strike with the support of actors and directors, and one of the main points of contention was the use of AI. The authors wanted, among other things, assurances regarding the responsible use of AI. The strike continued for several months until a resolution was reached with the studio. AI is currently at the center of a lawsuit filed against Amazon.
A remake of the 1989 film Road House is facing legal trouble before it can be released. According to a report from The Verge, screenwriter R. Lance Hill, who wrote the original screenplay, has sued Amazon Studios and MGM Studios for copyright infringement.
Hill claims he filed papers in 2021 to get back the rights to the script, which were set to expire in November 2023. Amazon claims it rushed production to meet deadlines and used AI technology to “replicate voices” due to the actors’ strike. ” in violation of the actors’ union agreement.
However, the situation is complex. Mr. Hill originally signed a “works for hire” agreement, which gave ownership and copyright to the studio. Although he ignores this as a standard clause, he is trying to block the release of the film, scheduled for March 8 at SXSW and then March 21 on Amazon’s streaming service.
Amazon strongly denies this claim. They specifically instructed filmmakers not to use AI, and said that if it was used, it was only in an early version, which was later removed. They further claim that the other accusations are “completely false” and believe the original film’s copyright is still valid.
An Amazon spokesperson told The Verge: “If AI was used, it was by the filmmakers[who were editing the initial cut of the film]and not by the studios that controlled the editing. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said, before adding that the filmmakers had been instructed to: Remove “AI or non-SAG AFTRA actors” when completing the film. The legal battle adds another layer of controversy to the already unconventional release strategy for the Road House remake, which bypassed theaters entirely and streamed it.
A remake of the 1989 film Road House is facing legal trouble before it can be released. According to a report from The Verge, screenwriter R. Lance Hill, who wrote the original screenplay, has sued Amazon Studios and MGM Studios for copyright infringement.
Hill claims he filed papers in 2021 to get back the rights to the script, which were set to expire in November 2023. Amazon claims it rushed production to meet deadlines and used AI technology to “replicate voices” due to the actors’ strike. ” in violation of the actors’ union agreement.
However, the situation is complex. Mr. Hill originally signed a “works for hire” agreement, which gave ownership and copyright to the studio. Although he ignores this as a standard clause, he is trying to block the release of the film, scheduled for March 8 at SXSW and then March 21 on Amazon’s streaming service.
Amazon strongly denies this claim. They specifically instructed filmmakers not to use AI, and said that if it was used, it was only in an early version, which was later removed. They further claim that the other accusations are “completely false” and believe the original film’s copyright is still valid.
An Amazon spokesperson told The Verge: “If AI was used, it was by the filmmakers[who were editing the initial cut of the film]and not by the studios that controlled the editing. It shouldn’t have happened,” he said, before adding that the filmmakers had been instructed to: Remove “AI or non-SAG AFTRA actors” when completing the film. The legal battle adds another layer of controversy to the already unconventional release strategy for the Road House remake, which bypassed theaters entirely and streamed it.
