An AI face-swapping app might not be able to avoid a lawsuit from a reality TV contestant, following a hearing on a motion to dismiss. Kyland Young, a finalist on CBS’s “Big Brother”, has argued that the altered clips of him on a show infringe on his California’s right of publicity, as indicated in a recent hearing.
The face-swapping app in question was developed by NeoCortext Inc. and is named “Reface”. This app provides users with the ability to swap faces with well-known individuals such as athletes or musicians using deepfake technology. The representation of Young within the app includes a number of animated images showing him in scenes from “Big Brother”.
This legal dispute started when Young lodged a class-action lawsuit in April in the US District Court for the Central District of California. The main claim is grounded on the alleged violation of Young’s publicity rights due to the app’s use of doctored footage from his time on the reality TV show “Big Brother”.
According to an initial ruling, the case aligns more closely with the Downing case. In contrast, the defence argues that Young is not prominent enough to generate interest in searches about him.
Regardless of the case’s outcome, this dispute testifies to the growing legal complexities surrounding AI and deepfake technologies, particularly concerning personality rights. Legal professionals and corporations alike should pay attention to the development of this case, as it could set significant precedents in AI law.
Read more about this at Bloomberg Law.