July 29 (Reuters) – Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) on Friday sued the creators of an alleged unauthorized musical stage manufacturing of its common interval drama “Bridgerton,” accusing them of copyright infringement after constructing demand for his or her knockoff on TikTok.
The criticism was filed towards Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear within the federal court docket in Washington, three days after a sold-out efficiency of “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical” in that metropolis’s Kennedy Middle.
A lawyer for the defendants had no instant remark, having but to evaluate the criticism.
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“Bridgerton,” based mostly on Julia Quinn’s bestselling romance novels, attracted 82 million viewers within the first 4 weeks of the collection’ debut on Netflix, a file on the time. It was renewed for a second season, and impressed a spin-off collection and reside occasion, “The Queen’s Ball,” hosted in six cities.
Netflix stated after “Bridgerton” was first launched in December 2020, the defendants began posting in regards to the collection to TikTok, the place they’ve 2.4 million followers, together with creating songs based mostly on characters, scenes, dialogue and plot factors.
The corporate stated it warned the defendants repeatedly to cease, however they plowed forward with an album titled “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,” which received a Grammy award, and their stage present.
“Barlow & Bear’s conduct started on social media, however stretches ‘fan fiction’ effectively previous its breaking level,” Netflix stated. “It’s blatant infringement of mental property rights.”
This week, Barlow and Bear’s musical was carried out in entrance of a sold-out crowd on the Kennedy Middle in Washington, the place Netflix was internet hosting its personal reside “Bridgerton” expertise.
The Kennedy Middle present “attracted Bridgerton followers who would have in any other case attended the Bridgerton Expertise and created confusion as as to whether Netflix had accepted of Barlow & Bear’s unauthorized by-product works,” Netflix stated within the lawsuit.
A September efficiency is deliberate for Royal Albert Corridor in London, the swimsuit claims.
Collection creator Shonda Rhimes stated in a press release that whereas there may be “a lot pleasure” in seeing audiences fall in love with “Bridgerton” and discover inventive methods to precise their appreciation, “what began as a enjoyable celebration by Barlow & Bear on social media has changed into the blatant taking of mental property solely for Barlow & Bear’s monetary profit.”
Writer Quinn added that she was “flattered and delighted” when Barlow and Bear started composing ‘Bridgerton’ songs and sharing with their different followers on TikTok. “There’s a distinction, nevertheless, between composing on TikTok and recording and performing for industrial achieve,” she stated in a press release.
The lawsuit seeks to cease the alleged infringements, plus unspecified damages.
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Reporting by Daybreak Chmielewski in Los Angeles and Jonathan Stempel in New York; modifying by David Gregorio and Diane Craft
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