Dan Ackerman, author of a book on the history of Tetris, accuses Apple and The Tetris Company of having plagiarized his work for the Tetris movie broadcast on Apple TV+. He claims a percentage of the film’s production budget in compensation.
At the beginning of the year, we were delighted with the arrival of the film Tetris on Apple TV+, as it seemed to pay homage to the 80s with aptness. The feature film tells the genesis of the legendary brick game as well as Henk Rogers’ battle to recover the rights to it from the Soviet government and bring it to gameboy. Looking closer, Dan Ackermanauthor of the book The Tetris Effect: The Game that Hypnotized the Worldfind that it sounds a lot like what he wrote.
He finally decides to file a complaint against Apple and The Tetris Company for plagiarizing his work. Before publishing his book in 2016, Dan Ackerman sent a copy to The Tetris Company. The answer is scathing: she refuses to grant rights for any project relating to the book, strongly dissuading producers from adapting it into a film or series. Dan Ackerman leaves it at that, but the story continues.
Apple and The Tetris Company are sued for plagiarizing a Tetris book
According to the filed lawsuit, The Tetris Company CEO Maya Rogers and screenwriter Noah Pink began copy Ackerman’s work for the screenplay of the film Tetris as early as 2017. According to the author, the feature “generously borrowed several specific parts and events from the book.” The charge relates to three points: copyright infringement, unfair competition and unlawful interference with plaintiff’s business dealings.
For Kevin Landau, attorney for Ackerman, the lawsuit is about “righting a wrong and ensuring respect and justice for the work, diligence and property of someone who deserves that respect and recognition under the law. ”. As compensation, the author claims at least 6% of the film’s $80 million production budget. This represents approximately €4,350,000. Apple and The Tetris Company are yet to comment on the complaint.
Source: The Guardian