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Civil Litigation,
Intellectual Property,
Entertainment & Sports

Aug. 17, 2012

From reality TV to virtual reality: expression is the name of the game

Prevailing on a copyright infringement claim based on similarities between reality shows may very well be impossible.

Andrew J. Thomas

Partner, Jenner & Block LLP

Phone: (213) 239-5100

Email: ajthomas@jenner.com

Harvard Univ Law School; Cambridge MA

Andrew represents content owners in copyright, trademark and First Amendment matters. CONTENT MATTERS is a monthly column devoted to matters of interest to those who create content of all kinds (entertainment, news, software, advertising, etc.) and bring that content to market. Our hope is to shed light on key issues facing the creative content community. If you have questions, comments or topic ideas, let us know. Because content matters.

Farnaz M. Alemi

CONTENT MATTERS

"'Reality,' it turns out, is hard to copy," noted Judge Gary A. Feess in his June order denying CBS Broadcasting's bid for a temporary restraining order to prevent ABC from airing its new reality television series "Glass House." CBS Broadcasting, Inc. v. American Broadcasting Companies, CV 12-04073 GAF (C.D. Cal. filed June 21, 2012) (CBS v. ABC). CBS filed its lawsuit against ABC in May complaining that "Glas...

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