It looks like CBS’ threat against new ABC reality TV series Glass House was more than just a threat as the network on Thursday filed a lawsuit against ABC for what it calls a blatant rip-off of the Big Brother series.
Last week CBS sent ABC a cease-and-desist letter claiming that the show Glass House is “strikingly similar” to Big Brother since it basically involves a bunch of people living in a house while competing for prizes.
CBS filed the lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court, in the filing the network’s lawyers write:
“If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then CBS should take pride in ABC’s latest reality television project, ‘Life in a Glass House.’”
The lawsuit then uses words like “carbon copy” and “an obvious attempt … to capitalize on its [Big Brothers] unique success.
CBS says the new show steals its copyright expression and explicit trade secrets.
The lawsuit also claims that ABC hired 19 staffers who at one time worked on Big Brother and that those employees knowingly disclosed trade secrets and other confidential information to ABC.
Stoking the fire further CBS claims a belief that at least one executive on ABC’s new show has been attempting to poach Big Brother employees.
CBS is asking that at least 3 former high level Big Brother employees pay $500,000 each for violating CBS’ confidentiality clauses.
It is not just ABC employees being sued, CBS is also asking that ABC pay an undisclosed amount of money for the reasons already disclosed.
