M. Night Shyamalan Hit with $81 Million Lawsuit
M. Night Shyamalan Hit with $81 Million Lawsuit.
Thriller expert M. Night Shyamalan contributed his name and expertise to "Servant," a horror series that aired on Apple TV+ for four seasons from 2019 to 2023. Shyamalan took on the roles of producer, showrunner, and occasional director for the series. Currently, both he and Apple are facing an $81 million copyright lawsuit filed by an Italian filmmaker who alleges that the show borrowed elements from her 2013 project without authorization.
The plaintiff, Francesca Gregorini, asserts that her 2013 film "The Truth About Emanuel" shares significant similarities with "Servant." Jurors are now reviewing episodes of the series alongside the feature film to assess the validity of her claims. Her attorney has indicated that the resemblances are too pronounced to be mere coincidence.
"This is a simple case. There would be no 'Servant' without 'Emanuel.'"
The defense counsel for Shyamalan and Apple presented a contrasting perspective, portraying Gregorini as an opportunist seeking to capitalize on the situation for immediate financial gain.
"Ms. Gregorini is seeking a windfall here. She's seeking $81 million for work she didn't do. The truth is the creators of 'Servant' do not owe anything to Ms. Gregorini."
The case seems to revolve around a narrative element that is present in both "Servant" and "Emanuel," featuring a mourning mother who treats a doll as if it were her deceased child. The plaintiff asserts that her film has been accessible on iTunes for several years, and even if Tony Basgallop, the writer of "Servant," can demonstrate that he was developing his project prior to that time, he did not incorporate this particular plot device until later.
Additionally, there are purported communications between Gregorini and an Apple executive named Max Aronson, which the plaintiff argues establish a connection between her film and "Servant."
The defense has raised the argument that "Emanuel" does not fit within the horror or thriller categories, asserting that "you can't own a fact, and you can't own an idea," a point that may be contested by the jury.
Night Shyamalan is anticipated to testify, likely defending the originality of his series and asserting that it was not influenced by the earlier film, which the defense noted earned less than $300 during its very limited theatrical run.
This marks Gregorini's second effort to secure a copyright ruling regarding the similarities between "Emanuel" and "Servant," following a previous dismissal of her case by a judge in 2020, during which she was ordered to cover Shyamalan and Apple's legal expenses. However, the case has been revived on appeal, and it is now up to the judge and jury to determine the next steps.
In conclusion, M. Night Shyamalan and Apple TV+ have presented a strong defense against the $81 million copyright lawsuit, asserting that "Servant" is an original work and not influenced by Francesca Gregorini’s 2013 film "The Truth About Emanuel." The defense argues that narrative elements such as a mourning mother treating a doll as a deceased child are not unique to Gregorini's film and cannot be owned as intellectual property.
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Shyamalan's long-established career as a creator of original thriller and horror content further supports the originality of "Servant." As the case continues, it is likely that the jury will recognize the creative independence of Shyamalan’s series.
