Director M. Night Shyamalan and writer Tony Basgallop have successfully defended against an $81 million plagiarism lawsuit regarding their Apple TV+ series Servant. The lawsuit, filed by filmmaker Francesca Gregorini in 2020, alleged that Servant copied the plot and artistic elements from her 2013 film The Truth About Emanuel.
After years of legal battles, the case was initially dismissed but later reinstated on appeal. However, following a seven-day jury trial, a federal judge ruled in favor of Servant, rejecting Gregorini’s claim that the show had unlawfully lifted ideas from her movie.
Key Similarities and Differences
Gregorini’s lawsuit centered around specific similarities between the two works, including a character treating a doll as a real baby and later fainting from distress. The filmmaker argued that Servant mimicked The Truth About Emanuel in both theme and execution.
Shyamalan strongly denied the allegations, stating, “This accusation is the exact opposite of everything I do and everything I try to represent. I would never allow it.”
His legal team pointed out that while both projects featured dolls mistaken for real babies, Servant is a supernatural thriller, whereas The Truth About Emanuel is a psychological drama. They also emphasized that the concept of fainting in films is not original and has been used in countless movies, including Alfred Hitchcock’s works.
A Jury Decision in Favor of Servant
During the trial, the jury watched The Truth About Emanuel alongside the first three episodes of Servant. After reviewing the evidence, they determined that the similarities were not substantial enough to warrant copyright infringement.
Shyamalan’s attorney, Brittany Amadi, argued that Gregorini was seeking a financial windfall from work she had no part in creating. “The truth is the creators of Servant do not owe anything to Ms. Gregorini,” Amadi stated.
While Gregorini has the option to appeal, legal experts believe the ruling establishes a strong precedent favoring creative differences over claims of general thematic similarities.
With this ruling, Servant remains free of legal challenges as all four seasons continue streaming on Apple TV+. The case serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding copyright claims in Hollywood, where inspiration and originality often blur the lines between homage and plagiarism.
