• Screenwriter R. Lance Hill demanded the rights to take back the script
  • Screenwriter R. Lance Hill has accused Amazon Studios of using generative artificial intelligence to clone actors’ voices

The writer of the 1989 action film “Road House” is suing MGM Studios and its owner Amazon Studios for alleged copyright infringement in the upcoming remake of “Road House,” and asking court to block the release of the film, which is scheduled to premiere on the opening night of SXSW on March 8 and will be available on Prime Video on March 21.

Withdraw a script

The writer of the 1989 action film “Road House” sued MGM Studios and its owner, Amazon Studios, alleging copyright infringement in the upcoming remake of the film. R. Lance Hill said he filed a petition with the U.S. Copyright Office in November 2021 to reclaim rights to the script. Amazon would have owned the rights to “Road House” but the tech giant’s ownership of the work expires in November 2023.

According to Hill’s original agreement with United Artists, the work was considered a work for hire. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, the employer is both the owner of the work and the copyright holder.

Amazon’s attitude

Hill accused Amazon of ignoring his copyright claims,and in order to produce a remake in time they even taking the “extreme step” of using a generative artificial intelligence to clone the actors’ voices.

Amazon has adamantly denied using AI to replace or recreate actors’ voices, said by spokeswoman Jenna Klein, “The studio explicitly remind the filmmakers of not to use AI in this film.”

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