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
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.
Technical 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.
Who is protected: California individuals whose likenesses are used by face-swap apps without consent
Who must comply: NeoCortext, Inc. and similarly situated face-swap/deepfake services
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | C.D. Cal. |
|---|---|
| Level | Federal |
| Status | Blocked / in litigation |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2023-04-03 |
| Citation | Young v. NeoCortext, Inc., No. 2:23-cv-02496 (C.D. Cal.); 9th Cir. Dec. 2024 |
| Topics | deepfakes · consumer protection · AI-generated images |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | 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
- TAKE IT DOWN Act · In effect
- TCPA (AI voice calls) · In effect
- DEFIANCE Act (deepfake-porn civil suits) · Proposed / pending
- SB 942 (AI Transparency Act) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- AB 2839 (Election Deepfakes) · Blocked / in litigation
- AB 602 (Deepfake Intimate Images) · In effect
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