Netflix faces $25 million lawsuit over Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Netflix’s recent release Black Mirror: Bandersnatch is being hailed as a revolutionary piece of content in the field of entertainment. The film makes the viewers think about the way the media is being consumed. The film is a hit, but not everyone is pleased about it.

The film ‘Black Mirror: Bandersnatch’ was released on the streaming website on 28th December.

According to the media reports, Chooseco, the publisher of the Choose Your Own Adventure series of books, has filed a lawsuit against the streaming service for either $25 million or the profits from the episode, whichever is higher.

The lawsuit was filed in a Vermont federal court on Friday, 11th January. Which states that Netflix tried to pursue a license to develop interactive content based on the books, but does not actually have one.

The complaint further elaborates that Chooseco did send a written cease and desist request to Netflix “on at least one occasion” before the release of Bandersnatch.

Chooseco is also making a claim that the Netflix is benefiting from association with the brand, since conversation around the movie is using the ‘choose your own adventure’ phrase and the complaint points to a specific scene early on in the episode in which the protagonist Stegan Butler (Fionn Whitehead) refers to a fictional title as “a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book”.

Chooseco also claims that their brand has suffered “reputational harm” through the connection with Netflix’s dark Black Mirror series, and is claiming damages and relief in regards to trademark infringement, unfair competition, false designation of origin, and dilution.

Meanwhile, the official response from the Netflix on this account is being awaited.