Netflix faces copyright infringement case for 'Wild Wild Country' documentary
Wild Wild Country was Netflix's recent take on the controversial guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, better known as Osho. The documentary chronicled how he and his cult took over a small town in Oregon, US. However, the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning series has gotten the streaming giant into trouble as they are facing a potential copyright infringement lawsuit. Here's all about it.
Torchbearer for Osho files case against Netflix, producers, directors
The Osho International Foundation, which is the torchbearer for Rajneesh, along with filmmaker Michael Hilow have sued Netflix, the Duplass Brothers Productions, as well as directors Maclain Way and Chapman Way, on Thursday, January 31. They have claimed that Netflix's docu-series has used a substantial amount of footage that belongs to them, without prior consent from the parties involved. Netflix has not responded yet.
Complaint states Netflix appropriated content without permission
The complaint alleges that Hilow had directed a documentary in 1993 titled Rajneeshpuram an Experiment to Provoke God. Not only did Netflix take scenes from this documentary but also ended up taking scenes from three works that are controlled by Osho International. According to the complaint, in the first episode itself, there are 88 'instances of appropriation', which totals to around 12 minutes.
Osho Foundation seeks several legal measures against Netflix
Osho International is now asking that the court should grant an injunction that will bar Netflix from infringing their copyrights any further, while they simultaneously will explore the option of seeking damages as well as disgorgement of Netflix's profits from the series.
What is the Osho International Foundation?
The Osho International Foundation describes itself in the complaint as a company that is based out of Switzerland. The work of this company is to license, publish and archive the work of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, or Osho, the controversial guru who features in the center of Netflix's documentary. Naturally, in using their footage without permission, Netflix appears to have caused an infringement.
Priyanka Chopra is set to appear in an Osho-related movie
Netflix might be facing a lawsuit for Wild Wild Country, but Hollywood is not done with Osho. As we had reported, our very own Priyanka Chopra is set to star as the disciple Ma Anand Sheela in an upcoming film directed by Oscar-winning Barry Levinson.
