Overview

• Mel Elliott publicly accused Meghan Markle and Netflix of copying her 'Pearl Power' books for the proposed animated series 'Pearl,' claiming significant similarities between the works.
• Elliott's legal team sent three formal letters in 2021 and 2022 to Archewell Productions and Netflix, alleging potential copyright infringement, but received no response.
• Netflix canceled 'Pearl' in May 2022, citing a shift away from animation, though Elliott suggests her legal objections may have influenced the decision.
• Elliott expressed disappointment that her concerns were ignored and stated she would have preferred acknowledgment or collaboration rather than the show's cancellation.
• The dispute highlights broader concerns about intellectual property rights and power imbalances between independent creators and major media platforms.