M. Night Shyamalan Wins $81 Million Copyright Case Over Apple TV+ Series 'Servant'

A jury unanimously ruled that the director did not plagiarize elements from Francesca Gregorini's 2013 film, ending a five-year legal battle.

M. Night Shyamalan and Apple TV+ were cleared of copyright infringement allegations related to the series 'Servant' by a unanimous jury decision.
Italian director Francesca Gregorini alleged that 'Servant' copied narrative elements from her 2013 film 'The Truth About Emanuel,' seeking $81 million in damages.
Shyamalan testified that he and his collaborators were unaware of Gregorini's film, describing the similarities as a misunderstanding.
Key differences between the works were highlighted during the trial, including contrasting genres: 'Servant' is a supernatural thriller, while Gregorini's film is a coming-of-age drama.
The trial, which included screenings of both the film and episodes of the series, concluded a legal process that began in 2020 and was revived by an appeals court in 2022.