CMU School of Drama


Thursday, April 03, 2014

Cirque du Soleil Hologram Lawsuit: Alki David, 'Michael Jackson One'

Hollywood Reporter: Two years ago, a hologram of Tupac Shakur at the Coachella Music Festival had people wondering about what might be next in concert possibilities. Now, the technology that created the spectacle has landed in the hands of a noteworthy billionaire: Alki David, the eccentric one who attempted to transform the television business with streaming technology before Aereo stole his thunder and TV broadcasters unleashed their legal guns on him.

3 comments:

Becki Liu said...

I'm not very knowledgable in the field of legal matters but I find some quite irritating. I totally understand the point of patents and all but sometimes I think "what the heck!" Like Apple's patent on glass staircases! What the hell! Are you so self consumed that only YOU can have a freaking glass spiral staircase that looks like that?! I think it really hinders the design process for the rest of the world. It's all about making money. This lawsuit is probably great for that guy because he knows how much money he can get out of Cirque du Soleil. I think it's sick how greedy people are for money. I don't really know if it was his system that they used or just the concept but still...

But the I guess it's the law and we must abide so... You just always have to be on your toes and make sure everything is legally sound so stuff like this won't happen.

Albert Cisneros said...

Just thinking about the technology behind this lawsuit is exciting and opens up a lot of opportunities for the entertainment industry. I remember hearing about the 3D hologram of tupac when it happened and not thinking much about it. But now, thinking about it in terms of designer for the stage and entertainment it could be such an amazing tool for designers to use and mold. Having 3D images like this on stage could change the way people see theater and really throw it into a new dimension. I think creatively used technology in live entertainment is what is going to be the future for broadway, and art in general. It allows designers to make the set more intelligent and interactive in a way that was never before possible.

AnnaAzizzyRosati said...

I always wonder how companies a ginormous as Cirque du Soleil get into these sorts of legal situations. Surely they have someone who can make sure their ideas aren't already patented! Or perhaps Cirque has so much money that they could care less who sues them. Either way, it's hard to tell where to draw the line with copy write issues. On one hand, it is certainly important that artists receive credit and payment for their ideas and inventions, but on the other hand, an idea that is not stolen cannot be manipulated and turned into something new. It limits artists' ability to expand art's realm by expanding upon each other's ideas.