US Judge Backs I’m A Celebrity

A US federal judge has ruled that the I’m A Celebrity….Get Me Out Of Here format is not a copy of Survivor, the show produced by Castaway Television Productions. The ruling leaves Granada free to sell the lucrative format across the globe.

Last autumn, Castaway and CBS filed a copyright infringement suit in New York alleging that I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out Of Here directly copied the format, look and feel of Survivor (see CBS Sues Granada Over I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.)

However, according to Reuters, in a two hour ruling, the judge assessing the case said that she found “the concept and the feel of the two shows to be different.”

I’m A Celebrity was a surprise ratings hit for ITV1 last summer and its appeal was not lost on the judge who claimed that her favourite part of the show was the worm eating scene. The show raised more than £600,000 for charity.

The court case drew intense media interest in America as it pitched the two biggest networks against each other. ABC owned the rights to I’m A Celebrity while CBS had previously acquired Survivor.

Advertisers and media buyers on ABC followed the case closely, after the channel revealed a negative ruling would have left them with a hole in their schedule during a key ratings period.

ABC’s parent company, Walt Disney, commented: “We look forward to giving the American public a chance to see this fresh new reality show that has played to enormous audiences in the United Kingdom.”

Granada: 020 7620 1620 www.granadamedia.com

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