Netflix and 'Squid Game' creator sued for plagiarism by Indian filmmaker

[KeyboardKitty]

 

The global hit series Squid Game, which took the world by storm in 2021, is now at the center of a legal dispute. Indian filmmaker Soham Shah has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, claiming that the popular South Korean series is a copy of his 2009 film, Luck.

 

Shah’s lawsuit, filed in New York on September 13, 2024, centers on the core premise of both works. He claims that Squid Game’s concept of participants competing in deadly games for survival mirrors that of his own film. Both works, according to Shah, revolve around high-stakes competitions where luck plays a crucial role in determining survival.

Released in 2009, Hindi film Luck tells the story of an "underworld kingpin" who recruits individuals deemed exceptionally lucky to participate in life-threatening games. These games are played for massive sums of money, with gamblers wagering on the players’ survival. Shah contends that the South Korean dystopian series borrows heavily from this concept, particularly the idea of desperate contestants risking their lives in dangerous games for a large cash prize.

Interestingly, Shah’s Luck has faced similar accusations in the past. Some sources have suggested that it drew inspiration from other films, notably the 2005 French movie 13 Tzameti and the 2007 action film The Condemned, though Shah has denied these claims. This adds another layer of complexity to the current dispute.

 

In response, Netflix has denied the allegations, calling them groundless and without merit. The streaming giant maintains that their popular series is an entirely original creation by Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has attributed his inspiration to personal experiences and survival-themed comics rather than external films.

The lawsuit brings to light important questions about intellectual property and the fine line between inspiration and plagiarism. Although both Luck and Squid Game share the concept of life-or-death games, their cultural settings and narrative details are quite different. The outcome of this case could set a new precedent for intellectual property disputes in the entertainment industry, particularly in an era of widespread global content consumption.

Despite the ongoing legal battle, the popularity of Squid Game remains unaffected. The much-anticipated trailer for season 2 has already been released, promising an even darker and more intense storyline. The new season is set to debut on December 26, 2024.

 

The case raises intriguing questions about the nature of creativity and originality. What do you think: Is it possible for two creators to independently come up with similar ideas, or do you believe one must have influenced the other? How do you distinguish between inspiration and imitation in creative works?

 

• https://www.newsweek.com/squid-game-netflix-lawsuit-hwang-dong-hyuk-manhattan-new-york-indian-director-luck-1954487
• https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/squid-game-netflix-luck-imran-khan-b2614169.html
• https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-filmmaker-sues-netflix-over-squid-game-claims-its-a-copy-of-his-movie-luck-758613
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/netflix-on-luck-director-soham-shahs-claim-that-squid-games-is-a-copy-of-his-movie-there-is-no-/articleshow/113436690.cms

 

Image:  Mohamed Ahmed Soliman | Dreamstime.com