Netflix Sued By 'Choose Your Own Adventure' Publisher Over Film
The publisher of the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book series is upset over Netflix's Black Mirror: Bandersnatch interactive film, which lets the viewer decide how the plot will unfold. At one point, the film even mentions the 'Chose Your Own Adventure' term.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/netflix-sued-by-choose-your-own-adventure-publisher-over-film
Netflix is facing a lawsuit from the publisher of the Choose Your Own Adventure book series for using the brand name in the new Black Mirror: Bandersnatch film.
The lawsuit against Netflix comes from Chooseco, the owner of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" trademark. On Friday, the company filed the complaint, which was spotted by The Hollywood Reporter.
Chooseco is upset over Netflix's Black Mirror interactive film, which lets the viewer decide how the plot will unfold. Early on in the film, the main character also talks about adapting a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book into a computer game.
"Netfix has no license or authorization to use Chooseco's trademark," the complaint reads, "and upon information and belief, used the mark willfully and intentionally to capitalize on viewer's nostalgia for the original book series from the 1980s and 1990s.
Chooseco also takes issue with the "dark and, at times, disturbing content," of the Black Mirror film, which the company claims "dilutes the goodwill" and positive associations with the Choose Your Own Adventure trademark.
In addition, Chooseco was originally in talks with Netflix back in 2016 to develop a film series based the books before deciding to sign a deal with the movie studio Twentieth Century Fox instead. But according to Chooseco, that didn't stop Netflix from allegedly using the Choose Your Own Adventure term in its marketing for another TV program.
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The publisher is now demanding a US district court in Vermont force Netflix to pay at least $25 million in damages over the trademark infringement. Chooseco also wants the streaming provider to drop using the Choose Your Own Adventure term.
Netflix declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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