About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 28, 2024)
2A Sunday, January 28, 2024 The Times, Gainesville, Georgia I gainesvilletimes.com Estate of George Carlin sues company behind fake special Gregory Bull Associated Press Actor and comedian George Carlin poses in a New York hotel March 19, 2004. BY ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES — The estate of George Carlin is suing the media company behind a fake hourlong com edy special that purportedly uses artificial intelligence to recreate the late standup comic's style and material. The lawsuit fded in fed eral court in Los Angeles on Thursday asks that a judge order the podcast out let Dudesy to immediately take down the audio special, “George Carlin: I'm Glad I'm Dead," in which a syn thesis of Carlin delivers com mentary on current events. Carlin died in 2008. Carlin's daughter, Kelly Carlin, said in a statement that the work is “a poorly- executed facsimile cobbled together by unscrupulous individuals to capitalize on the extraordinary goodwill my father established with his adoring tan base.” The Carlin estate and its executor, Jerold Hamza, are named as plaintiffs in the suit, which alleges violations of Carlin's right of publicity and copyright. The named defendants are Dudesy and podcast hosts Will Sasso and Chad Kultgen. “None of the Defendants had permission to use Car lin's likeness for the AI- generated ‘George Carlin Special,' nor did they have a license to use any of the late comedian's copyrighted materials,” the lawsuit says. The defendants have not filed a response to the law suit and it was not clear whether they have retained an attorney. They could not immediately be reached for comment. At the beginning of the special posted on YouTube on Jan. 9, a voiceover iden tifying itself as the AI engine used by Dudesy says it lis tened to the comic's 50 years of material and “did my best to imitate his voice, cadence and attitude as well as the subject matter I think would have interested him today.” The plaintiffs say if that was in fact how it was created — and some listeners have doubted its stated origins — it means Carlin's copyright was violated. The company, as it often does on similar projects, also released a podcast epi sode with Sasso and Kultgen introducing and commenting on the mock Carlin. “What we just listened to, was that passable?” Kultgen says in a section of the epi sode cited in the lawsuit. “Yeah, that sounded exactly like George Carlin,” Sasso responds. The lawsuit is among the first in what is likely to be an increasing number of major legal moves made to fight the regenerated use of celebrity images and likenesses. The AI issue was a major sticking point in the resolu tion of last year's Hollywood writers and actors strikes. THANKYOU FOR READING EVENTS Georgia Art League Winter Exhibit. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays through Feb. 26. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville.470-272-3010, mela- nievaughanl33@gmail.com. Free. Adult Brain Teaser Week. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 27. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532- 3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary. org. Free. Becoming a Plant Parent: Houseplant Basics. 10 to 11:30 a.m. Jan 27. Atlanta Botanical Gar den Gainesville, 1911 Sweetbay Drive, Gaines ville. $29-$34. Cat Castles. 5:30 to7:30 p.m. Jan.29. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 et. 4011, jcline@hallcountylibrary.org. Free. Healthy Habits for Longer Living. 10:30 a.m. to noon Jan. 29. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gaines ville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011, jcline@hallcoun- tylibrary.org. Free. Exploring Watercolor 1.9 to 11:30 a. m. Jan. 30. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, INFO@QVAC.ORG. $150. LifeSouth Blood Drive hosted by City of Gaines ville. 11 a.m. to4 p.m. Jan. 30. Department of Water Resources Administration Building, 757 Queen City Parkway SW, Gainesville. Bingo fundraiser for special needs and church youth. 6:30 p.m. Feb. 2. The Marketplace, 1 First St., Gainesville. 470-703-0187, themarket- placel717@gmail.com. $10-$20. Brenau Dance Department...De/Cipher: A Faculty and Guest Artist Concert. 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 2-3. Brenau University Pearce Auditorium, 202 Boulevard NE, Gainesville. 770-534-6249, mcooper3@brenau.edu. $5-$10. Clay Heart Pop-Up Workshop. 1 to 3 p. m. Feb. 3. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514 Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536-2575, qartscenter@gmail. com. $30. ONGOING Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group. 5:30- 6:30 p.m. first Tuesdays of the month. Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Ave. NE, Gaines ville. 727-409-6608, charlenebestdewitt@ gmail.com. Free. Card workshop. 10a.rn.to 1 p.m. first Satur days of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gaines ville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hall- countylibrary.org. Discovery Saturdays. 10a.m.to3 p.m.second Saturdays of the month. Elachee Nature Science Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770- 535-1976. $3-$5. Ekphrasis for the Masses. Noon to 1 p.m. sec ond Tuesdays of the month. Quinlan Visual Arts Center, 514Green St. NE, Gainesville. 770-536- 2575, info@qvac.org. Free. Gainesville Lacers. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. third Satur days of the month. Hall County Library System, Publish your event Don’t see your event here? Organizers can go to gainesvilletimes.com/ calendar and submit their events for publication online and in print. Click the “+Add event” button at the top right and follow the prompts to add information and a photo. Events publish at the editors’ discretion. See more Go to gainesvilletimes.com/calendar for the full interactive calendar of events throughout the region. Gainesville branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gaines ville. 770-532-3311, gkoecher@hallcountyli- brary.org. Gentle Yoga. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.second, third and fourth Wednesdays. Blackshear Place Branch Library, 2927 Atlanta Highway, Gaines ville. 770-337-1572, dl9345@bellsouth.net. Free. Georgia Cross Stitchers. 10 a.m. to4:30 p.m. second Saturdays of the month. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532-3311 ext. 4011; gkoecher@hallcountylibrary.org. Free. Gold Rush Quilting Guild. 10 a. m. to noon first Wednesdays of the month. Friendship Baptist Church, 3513 Westmoreland Road, Cleveland. alenekempton@gmail.com. Hip Hop Class Wednesdays. 4-5 p.m. (3rd to 5th Graders) through May 15. Gainesville Ballet Company, 971 Riverside Drive, Gainesville. 770- 866-5353, info@gbcdance.com. $88. Homeschool Day. 10a.m. to 12 p.m.third Thursdays of the month. Elachee Nature Sci ence Center, 2125 Elachee Drive, Gainesville. 770-535-1976. $15. Ice Skating at Sugar Hill. Through Feb. 17. The Ice Rink at Sugar Hill, 5039 W. Broad St., Sugar Hill. Music Bingo. 7 to 9 p.m. every Thursday. NoFo Brew Co. Gainesville, 434 High St. SW, Gaines ville, topher@nofobrew.co. Free. Northeast Georgia Writers. 1-3 p. m. first Wednesdays of the month. Gainesville Down town Library, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. talltaleswriter@gmail.com. Free. Tea with Jane Austen: A Reading Group. 3-4 p.m. fourth Fridays of the month through No vember. Hall County Library System, Gainesville Branch, 127 Main St. NW, Gainesville. 770-532- 3311 ext. 4011, gkoecher@hallcountylibrary. org. Free. Trivia Night. 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays. NoFo Brew Co Gainesville, 434 High St. SW, Gainesville, to- pher@nofobrew.co. Free. Turning Leaves Book Club. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Wednesdays of the month. Linwood Nature Preserve Ecology Center, 415 Linwood Drive, Gainesville.karin.hicks@uga.edu. War Stories Book Club. 4-5 p.m. second Fridays of the month. Murrayville Branch Library, 4796 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville. 770-532- 3311 ext. 171. Free. FULL ACCESS WITH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION Our local news team, the largest in Northeast Georgia, works each day to bring you honestly local news delivered in several different platforms. Subscribers can tailor their preferences for reading the day’s news, whether that’s the traditional print edition or a combination of online formats. Print Traditional print editions are currently published Wednesday and Friday for delivery by mail. EPaper This platform offers the traditional look of a newspaper page but available on your tablet or other device. Editions are published Tuesday through Saturday, with two of those being replicas of the print edition. 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Learn more at gainesvilletimes.com/app. Social media [j/gainesvilletimes @gtimes [@J @gtimesnews ABOUT US AND OUR VALUES TODAY IN HISTORY f Ji i 11 ‘ Ml AP Photo In this 1986 file picture, members of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident walk past the solid rocket boosters and the exter nal tank of a shuttle being fitted in the Vehicle Assembly building at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The public has a right to know, and The Times is dedicated to that principle and the ‘continued enlightenment and freedom of the people of North Georgia,” as engraved outside our building. The pursuit of truth is a fundamental principle of journalism. But the truth is not always apparent or known immediately. A professional journalist’s role is to report as completely and impartially as possible verifiable facts so readers can, based on their own knowledge and experience, determine what they believe to be the truth. That is often an ongoing pursuit as journalists work to uncover stories and follow those stories wherever they lead, regardless of preconceived ideas. The news they report is separate from the opinions shared in the pages of The Times, which include those by its editorial board, columnists, political cartoonists and readers who submit letters to the editor. The presentation of both news and opinions is designed to educate, entertain and foster community conversation. Readers are encouraged to challenge and sharpen their perceptions based on that presentation. And we encourage readers to do the same for us, offering news tips, criticisms and questions. As your honestly local news source, we serve our readers first. Find us on these platforms or reach out to our newsroom at news@gainesvilletimes. com or 770-718-3435. On this date: In 1813, the novel “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen was first published anonymously in London. In 1915, the United States Coast Guard was cre ated as President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill merging the Life-Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service. In 1916, Louis D. Brandeis was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson to the Supreme Court, becomingthecourt’sfirstJewish mem ber. In 1922,98 people were killed when the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., col lapsed u nder the weight of nearly two feet of snow. In 1956, Elvis Presley made his first national TV appearance on “Stage Show,” a CBS program hosted byTommyand Jimmy Dorsey. In 1973, a cease-fire officially went into effect in the Vietnam War, a day after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords by the United States, North Vietnam and South Vietnam. In 1980, six U.S. diplomats who had avoided being taken hostage at their embassy in Tehran flew out of Iran with the help of Canadian diplo mats. In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew members, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe. She CTfmes gainesvilletimes.com A Metro Market Media Publication © 2023, Vol. 77, No. 19 Sunday, January 28,2024 HOW TO REACH US 345 Green St. N.W., Gainesville, GA 30501 P.0. Box 838, Gainesville, GA 30503 (770) 532-1234 Hours: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Drive thru open: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Publisher Stephanie Woody swoody@forsythnews.com Group Editor Nate McCullough nmccullough@gainesvilletimes.com TALK TO AN EDITOR, REPORT AN ERROR If you spot an error, we want to correct it immediately. We also want your news tips and feature ideas. Call: (770) 718-3435 or (770) 532-1234, Ext. 3435 Advertising Sales Mgr Jessica Shirley Hours: 8:30 a m. to midnight. 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Periodical postage paid: USPS 212-860 Delivery problems call (770) 532-2222 SINGLE COPY The Times is available at retail stores, newspaper racks and at The Times for $2.00 Midweek Edition and $2.00 Weekend Edition For our digital subscription offerings, go to gainesvilletimes.com/subscribe ENTERTAINMENT Man arrested outside of Taylor Swift’s home after violating protective order NEW YORK — A Seattle man who police say has been stalking and harassing Taylor Swift was ordered held without bail Thursday after he was arrested three times in recent days in front of the pop star's home in Manhattan's Tribeca neighborhood. David Crowe, 33, was arraigned in Man hattan Criminal Court on a misdemeanor charge of second-degree criminal contempt, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office. He was also ordered to undergo a psychiatric exam. Prosecutors said Crowe violated a pro tective order issued Wednesday mandating he stay away from Swift and her home and refrain from any communication with her. Crowe was arrested Wednesday by offi cers responding to complaints of an emo tionally disturbed man acting erratically Celebrity birthdays Actor Nicholas Pryor is 89. Actor Alan Alda is 88. Actor Susan Howard is 82. Actor-singer Barbi Benton is 74. Actor Harley Jane Kozak is 67. Rock musician Dave Sharp is 65. Rock singer Sam Phillips is 62. Rock musician Dan Spitz is 61. Singer Sarah McLachlan is 56. Rapper Rakim is 56. Actor Kathryn Morris is55. Rock/soul musi cian Jeremy Ruzumna (Fitz and the Tantrums) is 54. Singer Monifah is 52. Actor Gillian Vigman is 52. Actor Terri Conn is 49. Rapper Rick Ross is 47. Actor Rosamund Pike is 45. Actor Angelique Cabral is 45. Actor Elijah Wood is 43. Rapper J. Cole is 39. Actor Alexandra Krosney is 36. Actor Yuri Sardarov is 36. Actor Ariel Winter is 26. near Swift's townhouse. He was arraigned and issued the protection order, but a short time later he was arrested again near Swift's residence. Court documents say an unidentified security worker had spotted Crowe near the singer's home about 30 times since Nov. 25. Crowe was asked about 10 times not to approach the building or to leave, according to prosecutors. Associated Press
