Future of Sex
tagline
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • Remote Sex
  • Virtual Sex & Entertainment
  • Robots
  • Human Augmentation
  • Sex Tech
  • Dating & Relationships
  • Bizarre Bazaar 18+
  • Future of Sex Community
  • This Year’s Five Most Amusing Chatbots

  • “You Make Me Feel Mighty Real:” Do Today’s Erotic Chatbots Have Emotions?

  • The Show Must Go On: The Future of the Live Entertainment Industry

  • E-Girls & E-Boys: Where Tech and Fantasies Combine

  • VR Porn for Women: 8 Top Sites Reviewed by an Actual Woman [UPDATED]

  • Looking for Love in All the Virtual Places: Dating in the Metaverse

  • Digital Desires and Social Media Double Standards

  • State of the Sexbot Market: The World’s Best Sex Robot and AI Sex Doll Companies [UPDATED]

Future of Sex is supported by our readers. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Home > Robots > Scarlett Johansson Robot Opens the Door to Celebrity Crush Replicas

Robots
Home›Robots›Scarlett Johansson Robot Opens the Door to Celebrity Crush Replicas

Scarlett Johansson Robot Opens the Door to Celebrity Crush Replicas

By Antony Scholefield
April 16, 2016
7598
5

Will stars sue to stop their robotic doubles from going on sale?

A Chinese designed created a robot that looks eerily similar to actress Scarlett Johansson

A Scarlett Johansson robot, based on 3D-printing technology, could be the first step toward owning a realistic replica of your celebrity crush.

Hong Kong graphic designer Ricky Ma spent about $50,000 and 18 months creating his lifelike Mark 1 robot.

Ma told news outlets that he’d based the robot on a particular Hollywood star, although he wouldn’t reveal her name.

But people quickly identified it as Scarlett Johansson, the 31-year-old star of Her, The Avengers, and Lucy, and the only celebrity to be twice named “Sexiest Woman Alive” by Esquire magazine.

Technically impressive

The Mark 1, the robotic Scarlett, has a silicone skin stretched over its 3D-printed skeleton. It can perform detailed facial expressions and respond to spoken phrases.

If a person compliments it, the robot bows, smiles, giggles, and says thank you.

Ma hopes to sell his first robot and use the funds to build more. He also wants to write a book to inspire other developers.

A Scarlett Johansson robot? No, just a robot

The significance of Ma’s robot isn’t just the technical achievement, but the idea of a celebrity crush replica. A market could even exist for celebrity sex robots.

Celebrity blowup sex dolls have existed for years, although certain “originals” have stopped them. Miley Cyrus famously threatened to sue over a blowup doll. Kim Kardashian launched a similar lawsuit in 2010.

Perhaps that’s why Ricky Ma refused to identify the Mark 1 as an imitation of Scarlett Johansson.

If Johansson could prove it was based on her, she could sue Ma for exploiting her “personality rights.”

Legal rights versus robots

The legal concept of personality rights, or publicity rights, applies in a range of countries including the U.S., Canada, China, South Africa, and Australia.

The definition varies between countries and is rarely clear cut, but fundamentally, personality rights mean that a person’s recognizable attributes can’t be exploited for a commercial purpose unless they give permission.

If Ricky Ma or anybody else tried to sell a “Scarlett Johansson robot” in the U.S., the actress could take them to court, arguing (probably successfully) they were exploiting her personality without permission to sell the robot.

Furthermore, most courts don’t limit personality rights to somebody’s name. Anything that identifies the person could apply, including their looks.

Ma might have refused to reveal the inspiration for his robot, but if the likeness is identifiably Scarlett Johansson—as it seems to be, judging by the media reaction—then personality rights could put an end to any attempt to sell the robot in the U.S.

Of course, if Johansson or any other celebrity gave approval for a robot replica, nothing could stop people getting their hands on a copy of their celebrity crush.

Laws a bigger deal for robots than dolls

If a celebrity decided to sue, they might have a better case against a robot than, for example, a blowup sex doll.

Kim Kardashian

If somebody built an unauthorized celebrity robot but didn’t explicitly name it, or perhaps named it just “Scarlet” rather than “Scarlett Johansson,” the legal key would be whether the robot’s appearance were identifiable as the celebrity.

Producers of a basic sex doll, identifiable mostly by hair color and body shape, could claim the resemblance was coincidental. The “Kim” doll manufacturers tried to do this, although their greatest problem was probably their doll’s “biography,” which suspiciously reflected Kim Kardashian’s life.

For most new robots, however, the standard of success is whether they’re realistic or not.

A more realistic robot would probably be more identifiable and therefore more likely to be blocked in court. To avoid a lawsuit, a celebrity robot replica would have to be obviously different from the original person, defeating the whole purpose.

Will Scarlett see red?

Johansson has previously demonstrated an appetite for litigation.

In 2015, she filed a lawsuit over a French novel called The First Thing You See. The book involves a Johansson lookalike who visits a mechanic called Arthur Dreyfuss. Arthur initially thinks the woman is the real Scarlett and treats her like that.

Johansson claimed the novel “exploited” her name, reputation, and image, as well as featured defamatory content. The judge agreed parts were defamatory—but dismissed the claims based on personality rights.

The publishers removed the defamatory parts from the book, but could still seek to translate it or even adapt it into a film.

Other celebrities might be less tempted to sue, even over a robot copy. It’s easy to imagine adult entertainers, for example, investing in robot replicas to be sold for sexual purposes.

A Scarlett Johansson robot could run into legal trouble if it flirts with commercial production, but the broader potential for celebrity crush replicas is still wide open.

Image sources: Goldene Kamera, Insider, Luke Ford

Antony Scholefield

Antony Scholefield is a technology reporter with a special interest in medicine and emerging technologies.
Previous Article

The Kiiroo Review: Bridging the Gap to ...

Next Article

What Do We Really Think About Sex ...

Related articles More from author

  • Robots

    Satisfy a Robot in Free Online Sex Game Erotica Robotica

    May 25, 2016
    By Antony Scholefield
  • A person with red lips and dark hear wearing a space helmet.
    RobotsSex Tech

    Outer Limits: An Update on Space Sex and Procreation

    June 13, 2017
    By M. Christian
  • A dark-haired robotic head of a Chinese-made gynoid.
    Robots

    DS Doll Video Reveals Stunning Progress of Sexbot Head and Torso

    April 24, 2018
    By Future of Sex
  • Ose Sex Toy
    RobotsSex Tech

    Lora DiCarlo Launches Osé, a Robotic Sex Toy for Blended Orgasms

    November 30, 2019
    By Miss Doll
  • Katy, a sex doll escort offered by LumiDolls.
    Robots

    New Sex Doll Brothel in Barcelona Features 4 Synthetic Escorts

    March 9, 2017
    By M. Christian
  • Robots

    We Are Going to Fall in Love with Robots, Study Suggests

    August 23, 2019
    By Miss Doll

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • AugmentationRemote SexRobotsSex Tech

    Fascinating Sex Tech Unveiled at Sex Robot Conference

  • Dating & RelationshipsRobotsSex TechVirtual Sex & Entertainment

    Q&A: Sx Tech Co-founder Explains Why It’s a Hot Time for Women in the Industry

  • 6 Ways to Stay Intimate
    Dating & RelationshipsRemote Sex

    6 Ways to Feel Your Loved One’s Touch During Self-isolation

3DXChat
DreamSexWorld offers a stunning XXX 3D world filled with incredibly interactive erotic experiences.
  • TOP REVIEWS

  • Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    Review of the Best Massively Multiplayer Online Sex Games

    0
  • Project QT is the most popular RPG sex game at hentai sex game portal Nutaku.

    The Best RPG Sex Games of 2021

  • Realistic Sex Games

    Review of the Best Sex Games and Most Realistic Sex Simulators of 2023 [UPDATED]

    0
  • Screenshot of FeelConnect app future of interactivity intimacy available on Apple and Google Store

    The Best Sex Game Apps for Couples for 2021

  • Screenshot of a sexbot from adult entertainment game

    The Best Adult Games on Steam

Discover the best virtual sex parties and 3D sex worlds.
Share and discuss what the world thinks about our sexual future. Join the Future of Sex Community A blonde and light-skinned love doll face sppears next to the text Go now realdollxthe future is real.
  • 27KFollowers

Like Us on Facebook

Virtual Lust is a 3D interactive sex game.

Top Sex Tech Industry News & Insights

  • Sex Tech News Roundup
  • Future of Sex Expert Series
  • Sex Tech Conferences, Adult Expos, Sex Hackathons, and Virtual Event Listings
  • Sex Science Fiction

Follow us

  • Home
  • About
  • ADVERTISE
  • Contribute
  • Story Ideas
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
© 2011 - 2022 Future Exploration Network
This website or its third-party tools use cookies to improve user experience and track affiliate sales. To learn more about why we need to use cookies, please refer to the Privacy Policy.

By clicking the agree button or continuing to browse through the website, you agree to the use of cookies. Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT