George Carlin Estate Files Lawsuit Against Group Behind AI-Generated Stand-Up Special: ‘A Casual Theft of a Great American Artist’s Work’::George Carlin’s estate has filed a lawsuit against the creators behind an AI-generated comedy special featuring a recreation of the comedian’s voice.
Take a Nike shoe. Draw a large dick on the shoe. Try selling it as a Nike Shoe.
Vs.
Take a Nike Shoe. Draw a large dick on the shoe. Sell it as a piece of art. (As commentary on capitalism, etc)
Do you feel that one is copyright infringement and the other is a piece of transformative work?
Neither example is copyright infringement. The first-sale doctrine allows secondary markets - you are fine by copyright to sell your bedicked shoes to someone.
You’re not just reselling, so the doctrine doesn’t apply.
By selling the bedicked shoe as Nike you are implying that Nike has made this “offensive” shoe and are selling it.
If you do lie to the buyer that it was a brand new Nike shoe, it’d be the concern of the sales contract between you and the buyer, and trademark law.
I’ll call it
“Brand new shoes by Nike”
And add a disclaimer
“This is not brand new shoes from Nike”.
Do you think it will protect me from Nike?
You’d have to be careful about Nike’s trademark and the sales contract between you and the buyer. In the George Carlin case, neither of these apply.