James Sammataro, co-head of the firm's Media + Entertainment Practice, spoke with Bloomberg Law about the recent complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court involving M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple TV+ show “Servant.” 

Director Francesca Gregorini, who created a 2013 film “The Truth About Emanuel,” sued Apple Inc. and Shyamalan for using “strikingly similar—and highly idiosyncratic—characters, scenes, directorial choices, and modes of storytelling” in their show.

But Sammataro noted that the case “contains a fatal flaw.” He added, “In its (noble) attempt to comment on Hollywood’s gender inequity, the complaint concedes that the 'Servant' tells a different, ‘bastardized’ story: one in which an all male team manhandled a female-centric story.” 

The case is Gregorini v. Apple Inc. , C.D. Cal., No. 2:20-cv-00406, and the full article is available here (subscription required).

More About Sammataro’s Practice 

With two decades of trial experience in high-stakes copyright, trademark, defamation, First Amendment, rights-of-publicity and non-compete matters, Fortune 500 companies, James Sammataro represents leading media entities, professional sports teams and A-list talent in delicate, high-profile disputes.