From www.medialifemagazine.com:
CBS sues ABC:
'Survivor' ripoff
Claims 'Celebrity' island scamper is too close
By Jeff Bercovici
____Ah, the reality TV lawsuit. It's a tradition almost as old as reality TV itself.
__ The latest to observe this rite is CBS, which has filed suit to stop the planned February airing of the series "I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here" on ABC.
__ CBS says the show, modeled on a British series of the same name, is a shameless copy of "Survivor."
___ Both shows feature a group of contestants left to fend for themselves in a wilderness setting while being required to attempt physical and mental challenges and withstand elimination votes.
__ The main difference is that anyone can audition for "Survivor," while the cast of "Celebrity," as the show's name suggests, will be made up of stars._
__ Also, on "Survivor" the contestants vote each other off, whereas on "Celebrity" voting will be left up to viewers.
__ In its complaint, CBS cites specific similarities between the British version of "Celebrity" and "Survivor." Both shows limit their participants to a diet of rice and water, and both have featured episodes filmed in the Australian outback.
__ The production company behind both the U.S. and U.K. versions of "Celebrity," Granada, denied that the show is a "Survivor" ripoff after being sued in September by Sir Bob Geldolf, the music industry titan who owns international rights to "Survivor."
___Unless CBS gets its wish, ABC will broadcast episodes of "Celebrity" on 15 consecutive days during February sweeps.
__ Earlier, CBS and "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett filed a similar copyright infringement suit against Fox over its reality show "Boot Camp." Those proceedings ended in an undisclosed settlement a year ago.
__ CBS has also been on the receiving end of a similar infringement suit after announcing plans for a reality game show that was virtually identical, down to the title, to one that was set to air on Fox Family. CBS was allowed to go ahead with the show but ended up changing the name from "Race Around the World" to "The Amazing Race."
November 7, 2002© 2002 Media Life
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-Jeff Bercovici is a staff writer for Media Life.
CBS sues ABC:
'Survivor' ripoff
Claims 'Celebrity' island scamper is too close
By Jeff Bercovici
____Ah, the reality TV lawsuit. It's a tradition almost as old as reality TV itself.
__ The latest to observe this rite is CBS, which has filed suit to stop the planned February airing of the series "I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here" on ABC.
__ CBS says the show, modeled on a British series of the same name, is a shameless copy of "Survivor."
___ Both shows feature a group of contestants left to fend for themselves in a wilderness setting while being required to attempt physical and mental challenges and withstand elimination votes.
__ The main difference is that anyone can audition for "Survivor," while the cast of "Celebrity," as the show's name suggests, will be made up of stars._
__ Also, on "Survivor" the contestants vote each other off, whereas on "Celebrity" voting will be left up to viewers.
__ In its complaint, CBS cites specific similarities between the British version of "Celebrity" and "Survivor." Both shows limit their participants to a diet of rice and water, and both have featured episodes filmed in the Australian outback.
__ The production company behind both the U.S. and U.K. versions of "Celebrity," Granada, denied that the show is a "Survivor" ripoff after being sued in September by Sir Bob Geldolf, the music industry titan who owns international rights to "Survivor."
___Unless CBS gets its wish, ABC will broadcast episodes of "Celebrity" on 15 consecutive days during February sweeps.
__ Earlier, CBS and "Survivor" creator Mark Burnett filed a similar copyright infringement suit against Fox over its reality show "Boot Camp." Those proceedings ended in an undisclosed settlement a year ago.
__ CBS has also been on the receiving end of a similar infringement suit after announcing plans for a reality game show that was virtually identical, down to the title, to one that was set to air on Fox Family. CBS was allowed to go ahead with the show but ended up changing the name from "Race Around the World" to "The Amazing Race."
November 7, 2002© 2002 Media Life
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Jeff Bercovici is a staff writer for Media Life.