Apple, Shyamalan convince US appeals court to uphold TV show copyright win

By Reuters News

By Blake Brittain

Oct 22 (Reuters) - A US appeals court on Thursday upheld Apple AAPL.O and director M. Night Shyamalan's jury win in a dispute with filmmaker Francesca Gregorini over allegations that their Apple TV+ show "Servant" ripped off her movie "The Truth About Emanuel."

  • The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Gregorini's challenges to a California jury's verdict that had said Apple and Shyamalan's "Servant" could not have copied from her film

  • Gregorini's attorney and spokespeople for Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision

  • Gregorini sued Apple and Shyamalan for copyright infringement in 2020, arguing that "Servant," which ran from 2018 to 2023, was a "brazen copy" of "The Truth About Emanuel"

  • "Servant" and "The Truth About Emanuel" are both about a mother grieving the death of her baby who forms an attachment to a realistic doll

  • A jury determined last year that the makers of "Servant" lacked access to Gregorini's film before making their show

  • The 9th Circuit had revived the case in 2022 after finding that a federal judge dismissed it prematurely

The case is Gregorini v. Apple Inc, 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 25-3225.

For Gregorini: Patrick Arenz of Robins Kaplan

For Apple: Nicolas Jampol of Davis Wright Tremaine

Read more:

Director says in lawsuit Apple, Shyamalan stole her movie

Apple and M. Night Shyamalan must face director's lawsuit in latest court twist

Apple, M. Night Shyamalan win copyright trial over 'Servant' TV show

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