YesChat is a platform where users can engage with various chatbots that mimic the personas of famous individuals like Larry David, Stephen King, and Roger Ebert. These bots allow users to delve into different topics such as cynicism, Jewish wisdom, horror stories, and criticism.
However, a recent lawsuit has brought attention to the unauthorized use of celebrity names on YesChat. Tony Robbins, the renowned motivational speaker, has filed a lawsuit against the makers of YesChat for creating bots that use his name without permission. These bots, such as Talk to Tony Robbins and Tony Robbins GPT, allegedly repurpose Robbins’ copyrighted content without his consent.
Robbins claims that these unauthorized bots are competing with his own legitimate AI clone, which is available on his official website for a subscription fee. The lawsuit seeks at least $10 million in compensatory damages for unfair competition, trademark violations, and punitive damages for willful misconduct.
Brian Wolf, the attorney representing Robbins in this case, stated that this lawsuit is unique as it involves the creation of chatbots that mimic the persona of a well-known individual for commercial gain. While AI companies have argued that using copyrighted material for training AI models constitutes fair use, Wolf believes this case is distinct due to the deliberate recreation of a virtual persona.
YesChat, along with its parent companies InnoLeap and Mira Muse, have yet to respond to the cease and desist letter or the lawsuit filed in federal court. The lawsuit alleges federal trademark and false advertising claims, as well as a violation of California’s right of publicity law.
Overall, this case highlights the growing concerns surrounding the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in AI technology. As the legal battle unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts address the complex issues of intellectual property and celebrity rights in the digital age.
