French Court Rules in Favor of Netflix in Copyright Dispute Over Shark Horror Film

Paris, July 3, 2024 – In a significant legal decision, a French court ruled on Wednesday that Netflix can continue streaming the shark horror film “Under Paris” despite ongoing copyright infringement allegations.

The Paris court dismissed an emergency request from filmmaker Vincent Dietschy to ban the film from Netflix, citing procedural issues related to the lawsuit.

The controversy centers around Dietschy’s claims that “Under Paris” is a direct copy of his 2011 project “Silure,” an unproduced film about a giant catfish terrorizing Paris.

Dietschy, along with co-screenwriter Emily Barnett, contends that the shark thriller mirrors their screenplay, featuring “the same story, the same characters, and several identical scenes.”

Despite these claims, the court ruled that Netflix France, the French subsidiary of the streaming giant, could not be held responsible for the alleged copyright infringement.

The court stated that Netflix France was not the “operator, publisher or host” of the platform, thus absolving it of direct involvement in the content’s distribution.

Legal Battle Continues

While this ruling allows Netflix to keep streaming “Under Paris,” the court did not address the broader copyright infringement claims.

Dietschy has filed a separate lawsuit against the producers of “Under Paris,” seeking to prove that his intellectual property was unlawfully used in the making of the film.

The film, directed by Xavier Gens and starring French actor Berenice Bejo, has gained substantial popularity since its release, amassing over 84 million views on Netflix since early June.

It currently stands as the fourth most-watched non-English film on the platform and has remained in the top 10 for four consecutive weeks.

A Battle Over Creative Content

Netflix has maintained that the similarities between “Under Paris” and “Silure” are purely coincidental. The streaming service argued that there is no evidence suggesting that Dietschy’s project was accessed by the creators of “Under Paris.”

The company insists that the script for “Under Paris” was independently developed and that any resemblance to “Silure” is incidental.

The plot of “Under Paris” follows a marine biologist, played by Bejo, who confronts her tragic past to save Paris from a deadly shark. The storyline is set against the backdrop of the upcoming Olympic Games, adding a layer of urgency and spectacle to the narrative.

In contrast, Dietschy’s “Silure” was centered around a Parisian police officer and diver dealing with a giant catfish, offering a different aquatic menace to the city.

Industry Implications

This legal dispute highlights the challenges filmmakers face in protecting their intellectual property in the digital age.

As streaming platforms continue to dominate the entertainment industry, the potential for content overlap and intellectual property disputes increases.

Filmmakers and writers are calling for clearer guidelines and stronger protections to ensure that their creative works are not unfairly used without permission.

Dietschy’s battle against Netflix and the producers of “Under Paris” is far from over. The upcoming legal proceedings will likely delve deeper into the specifics of the alleged copying, potentially setting a precedent for future copyright cases in the entertainment industry.

Conclusion

For now, “Under Paris” remains available to Netflix’s global audience, continuing its successful run on the platform.

The court’s decision is a temporary victory for Netflix, but the final outcome of the copyright dispute will depend on the resolution of Dietschy’s ongoing lawsuit.

As the legal saga unfolds, it underscores the importance of safeguarding creative content in an increasingly interconnected and competitive media landscape.

 

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members