Young v. NeoCortext (Reface)
Young v. NeoCortext — Reface App Right-of-Publicity Action (C.D. Cal.)
C.D. Cal. · Young v. NeoCortext, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-02496 (C.D. Cal.); 9th Cir. Dec. 2024
- Status
- Blocked / in litigation
- Took effect
- April 3, 2023
- Applies to
- NeoCortext, Inc. and similarly situated face-swap/deepfake services
Reality TV personality Kyland Young sued NeoCortext (developer of the Reface face-swap app) under California's right-of-publicity statute, alleging Reface used his image in its in-app catalog without consent. In 2024 the Ninth Circuit affirmed denial of NeoCortext's anti-SLAPP motion, allowing the case to proceed.
Who is protected: California individuals whose likenesses are used by face-swap apps without consent
Legal detail
Young v. NeoCortext, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-02496 (C.D. Cal., filed Apr. 3, 2023; Judge Wesley L. Hsu). Cal. Civ. Code § 3344 right-of-publicity class action. 9th Cir. June 10, 2024 affirmance: NeoCortext's anti-SLAPP motion denied; commercial use is not protected expressive activity. Case in discovery.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | C.D. Cal. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Citation | Young v. NeoCortext, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-02496 (C.D. Cal.); 9th Cir. Dec. 2024 |
| Topics | deepfakes · consumer protection · AI-generated images |
| Court record | Young v. NeoCortext — CourtListener 2:23-cv-02496 |
More AI rules in C.D. Cal.
- Disney v. Midjourney · Blocked / in litigation
Related deepfakes rules elsewhere
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- Doe v. X.AI (Grok NCII deepfakes class action) · Blocked / in litigation
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- Arizona HB 2678 — AI-generated CSAM criminalized · In effect
- MN HF 1606 AI Nudification Ban (2026) · In effect
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