FremantleMedia Wins Format Infringement Case in Brazil

LONDON: A Brazilian court has ruled that broadcaster SBT infringed on the copyright of the FremantleMedia/Syco format Got Talent with the series Qual e o seu Talento?

The Court of First Instance of Osasco (São Paulo) awarded damages to FremantleMedia and issued an instruction to SBT to cease broadcasting Qual e o seu Talento?, which launched in August 2009.

"We are pleased with the result of these proceedings as FremantleMedia’s ability to control its rights and benefit from their commercial success drives our creativity, and offers the incentive to continue to invest in and develop shows," said Bart Jan Gorissen, VP of commercial and business affairs at FremantleMedia, who ran the case for with João Cunha of the Brazilian law firm Gusmao & Labrunie. "We believe that it is an important decision because the court recognized not only the unfair competition but also the copyright infringement. We will not let matters that directly undermine our commercial or creative successes go unchallenged.”

SBT has the right to appeal the decision. The broadcaster was previously the subject of a copyright infringement suit brought by Endemol and TV Globo. In December, a Brazilian court ruled that the SBT series Casa dos Artistas was an unauthorized version of Big Brother.