Netflix Sues ‘Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’ Writers: What to Know

Hassle within the ton! Netflix’s Bridgerton has quick develop into one of many streamer’s hottest hit collection, which quickly impressed loads of fan theories, content material creation and unique music.

Following the season 1 premiere of Bridgerton in December 2020, Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear introduced their intentions to make their very own musical impressed by the present through TikTok. After going viral on the social media platform, the musical duo have been ultimately in a position to file their numbers on an “unofficial” soundtrack album, which is presently streaming on Spotify. Barlow and Bear, who’ve since gained a Grammy Award for Finest Musical Theatre Album, have now been named in a copyright infringement lawsuit by Netflix.

“Defendants Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear and their firms (‘Barlow & Bear’) have taken beneficial mental property from the Netflix unique collection Bridgerton to construct a world model for themselves,” the federal lawsuit acknowledged, in keeping with the paperwork obtained by Deadline on Friday, July 29. “Bridgerton displays the inventive work and hard-earned success of tons of of artists and Netflix staff. Netflix owns the unique proper to create Bridgerton songs, musicals, or some other by-product works primarily based on Bridgerton. Barlow & Bear can’t take that proper — made beneficial by others’ onerous work — for themselves, with out permission. But that’s precisely what they’ve carried out.”

The tech firm has alleged they made “repeated objection” after the musicians introduced plans to promote tickets for his or her reside stagings at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Middle and London’s Royal Albert Corridor.

“[Their] reside present featured over a dozen songs that copied verbatim dialogue, character traits and expression, and different parts from Bridgerton the collection,” the courtroom paperwork learn. “It included dramatic portrayals of Bridgerton characters by Broadway actors, emoting via the efficiency of the songs that comprise the ‘musical.’ All through the efficiency, Barlow & Bear misrepresented to the viewers that they have been utilizing Netflix’s Bridgerton trademark ‘with Permission,’ whereas Netflix vigorously objected.”

Netflix, who has the unique proper to authorize by-product works primarily based on Julia Quinn’s guide collection, claimed within the courtroom paperwork that they repeatedly advised Barlow and Bear that their musical was unauthorized earlier than the women went forward with their plans. Their agent had allegedly advised the streaming large that the women had “no real interest in interfering with Netflix’s rights” or being often called “the Bridgerton women.”

Netflix and Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland manufacturing firm tailored Quinn’s bestselling historic romance novels forward of its first season premiere. Very like the books, the present follows the eight Bridgerton siblings as they navigate the wedding market in Seventeenth-century London. Bridgerton, which is presently filming its third season, stars Jonathan Bailey, Phoebe Dynevor, Luke Newton, Luke Thompson, Claudia Jessie, Nicola Coughlan and Simone Ashley with Julie Andrews voicing Girl Whistledown.

Barlow and Bear didn’t instantly reply to Us Weekly‘s request for remark.

Scroll beneath for the whole lot to know to date about Netflix’s authorized battle over Bridgerton: