A recent jury verdict has determined that M. Night Shyamalan and Apple did not plagiarize a 2013 independent movie in the creation of the psychological thriller series Servant. This decision highlights the challenges creators face when proving claims of copyright infringement.
After a seven-day trial, a California jury unanimously concluded that there was no conspiracy to copy Francesca Gregorini’s film, The Truth About Emanuel, in the first three episodes of Servant. The lawsuit sought $81 million alleging similarities in plot, characters, directing, camera angles, lighting, props, and set design between the two works.
The verdict emphasizes the difficulty in establishing copyright infringement as copyright law protects specific expressions of ideas rather than general concepts. The jury found that Shyamalan did not steal protectable elements from Gregorini’s film, leading to the dismissal of the lawsuit.
This decision reflects a trend in copyright lawsuits where creators are increasingly filing suits. Recent court rulings have discouraged early dismissals of such cases, allowing for a more thorough examination of similarities between works before making a judgment.
The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ role in lowering legal barriers for copyright lawsuits has led to an increase in infringement claims in the entertainment industry. This shift has resulted in accusations against popular works like Don’t Look Up, Moana, and Yellowjackets.
Shyamalan denied intentionally copying ideas from The Truth About Emanuel, attributing any resemblances to a “misunderstanding.” Testimony revealed that he viewed similarities as part of a broader cinematic tradition influenced by past filmmakers like Hitchcock and Kubrick.
Writer Tony Basgallop drew inspiration from real-life experiences for the script of Servant, which he co-executive produced with Shyamalan and others. Despite the legal dispute, representatives for Apple, Shyamalan, and Gregorini did not provide comments on the verdict.
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