Last week, Apple TV+ faced a trial over allegations that one of its series was copied from another creative work. After several days of testimony, the jury reached a unanimous conclusion.
Servant was at the heart of a protracted legal dispute involving Apple TV+
Servant, one of Apple TV+’s inaugural shows, has been embroiled in a legal controversy for several years now.
This four-season series tells the story of a couple in Philadelphia grappling with grief after a profound tragedy disrupts their marriage and invites a mysterious force into their lives.
The series comes from renowned filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan, known for directing suspenseful films such as The Sixth Sense, Split, and Knock at the Cabin.
In 2020, shortly following the launch of Servant on Apple TV+, Francesca Gregorini, the director of the 2013 film The Truth About Emmanuel, filed a lawsuit against Shyamalan and Apple.
According to Variety, the $81 million lawsuit claimed that Apple had appropriated the narrative of Gregorini’s film for the creation of Servant.
Both narratives feature “a mother who is delusional, treating a baby doll as if it were a real child, together with a nanny who supports that false perception.”
After numerous delays, including a phase where the case was dismissed and subsequently reinstated, the trial finally took place last week. The jury unanimously cleared Apple and Shyamalan of copyright infringement, having had the opportunity to view both Gregorini’s film and the initial three episodes of Servant.
Throughout the legal battle, all four seasons of Servant continued to stream on Apple TV+, and with the verdict delivered, the matter is now officially concluded.
For additional information on Apple TV+, check out the upcoming shows lineup.
Have you seen both Servant and The Truth About Emmanuel? Share your thoughts on their similarities and differences in the comments below.
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