Itâs learned the publisher behind the popular âChoose Your Own Adventureâ series of books is suing Netflix over their recent interactive Black Mirror: Bandersnatch movie for trademark and copyright violations.
The problem lies with the fact that Netflix has been promoting the movie as a âChoose Your Own Adventure,â which is a trademarked brand.
In addition, the lead character, whom viewers take control of and who designs a video game based on the âBandersnatch â fantasy novel, describes the novel in the film as a âChoose Your Own Adventure book.â
The lawsuit further reveals that Netflix and the publisher were in talks for the rights to use âChoose Your Own Adventureâ but the deal didnât go through; Chooseco is asking for $25 million in damages.
The âChoose Your Own Adventureâ brand is a series of novels that became popular in the â80s giving the reader different choices in the book. What is fun about the series is that not only would it offer different stories with each decision, but readers could go back and change their choice depending on the outcome.
While âChoose Your Own Adventureâ might seem like a common household name, think of it along the lines of something like a Dungeons & Dragons, which is an RPG game. All RPG games canât use D&D as part of their name or in promotion. Similarly, a burger restaurant canât use McDonaldâs, a car company wouldnât be able to use Ford, etc.
Growing up, I can recall that in my school library, the Choose Your Own Adventure âThe Third Planet From Altairâ book was a big favorite among us and always had a large waiting list.
