Home / Business and Economy / Sagan Estate Sues Luma AI Over Cosmos Audio
Sagan Estate Sues Luma AI Over Cosmos Audio
25 Aug
Summary
- Luma AI faces lawsuit for alleged unauthorized use of a Cosmos audio clip.
- The estate claims the clip was used to advertise Luma's AI video platform.
- The lawsuit was filed in California federal court on Tuesday.
The estate of Carl Sagan has initiated legal proceedings against AI startup Luma AI. Druyan-Sagan Associates Inc., which manages the intellectual property rights of the late scientist, filed a lawsuit in California federal court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The core of the legal challenge centers on allegations that Luma AI improperly used an audio clip from Sagan's influential documentary series, "Cosmos."
This specific audio segment was reportedly employed by Luma AI as part of its advertising campaign to promote its video-generation platform. The estate contends that this usage occurred without obtaining the necessary permissions. The lawsuit, filed under case number 2:26-cv-09474, is proceeding in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
