In a legal battle reminiscent of a reality TV show plot, a federal judge in New Jersey sent the curtain down on a copyright infringement case in a verdict favoring online streaming behemoth, Netflix, high-profile auction house, Goldin Auctions, their founder Ken Goldin, and the creators of the reality series “King of Collectibles.”
The legal drama was initiated by Gervase Peterson, a past contestant from the widely known reality television series “Survivor.” Peterson claimed that he had proposed a concept strikingly parallel to the “King of Collectibles” show to Ken Goldin back in 2019, suggesting that his idea, named “The Goldin Boys,” was later fabricated into a show by Wheelhouse Entertainment, and Netflix took it to the masses without giving him a sliver of recognition.
At the crux of the matter were the analogous aspects that Peterson feels were lifted from his original pitch and carefully woven into the material of the show, now entertaining viewers in its second season on Netflix. Despite the engagement Peterson experienced initially, the line of communication was reportedly severed around the midpoint of 2020. Soon enough, a production concept bearing an uncanny resemblance to Peterson’s original pitch moved into the manufacturing stage.
However, the defense was steadfast, contesting that the reality series, a hot and cold journey shedding light on the inner workings of Goldin Auctions and the life of Ken Goldin, stood on generic ideas that didn’t fall under the protective umbrella of the Copyright Act.
Backing this stand, Judge Christine O’Hearn of the New Jersey district court viewed the issue through the same prism. Offering her legal expertise, she articulated that elements Peterson championed as protectable were in fact, scènes à faire – a legal principle that denotes themes or scenarios common to a particular genre, hence unqualified for copyright protection. Judge O’Hearn pointed out that a sizable chunk of reality television territory falls into this bucket, including the daily business hustle showcased in the “King of Collectibles.”
Adding another layer to her verdict, Judge O’Hearn emphasized that elements common to reality shows and topics based on real-life incidents are often deemed unprotectable. Her ruling echoed the past legal decrees where similar lawsuits claimed infringement on copyright-protected domains.
The judge’s dismissal of the lawsuit reaffirms the challenge faced by those seeking to impose copyrights on broad concepts and general themes that populate the realm of reality TV.
Despite the jample hurdle of legalities, “King of Collectibles” has managed not only to clear the debris but also garnered recognition, snagging a recent nomination for an Emmy award. The ruling marks a clear victory for creators and distributors, offering hope to aspiring producers, and serves as a veritable reality check on the hard lines of copyright infringement.