Indian Filmmaker Sues Netflix, Claims ‘Squid Game’ Plagiarized His Movie

On the 13th (local time), Bloomberg reported that Indian film director Soham Shah has filed a lawsuit against Netflix in the U.S. District Court in New York, alleging that his 2009 film Luck was blatantly plagiarized by Squid Game.

Shah contends that his film Luck centers around “desperate individuals in significant debt who are drawn into competing in a series of high-stakes games to win substantial financial rewards.” He asserts that the main plot, characters, themes, atmosphere, setting, and sequence of events in Squid Game resemble those in Luck to an alarming degree, suggesting that this resemblance extends beyond mere inspiration to a clear imitation of his film.

Released in India in 2009, Luck is an action thriller that portrays characters who risk their lives in perilous games for a chance to win a significant prize. The characters face off intensely to escape their bleak situations, with the last one remaining claimed as the victor. Shah argues that this narrative closely parallels the fundamental elements of Squid Game, leading him to believe his copyright as the original creator has been infringed.

Moreover, Shah claims that Netflix has repeatedly violated his copyright through reality TV game shows and immersive experiences linked to Squid Game, prompting him to pursue legal action to rectify these infringements.

Shah points out that Squid Game has significantly boosted Netflix’s market value by over $900 million, seeking unspecified damages, and requesting a copyright infringement injunction to inhibit Netflix from profiting through Squid Game related marketing, streaming, merchandise sales, and future content development.

Since its release on Netflix in 2021, Squid Game has achieved explosive popularity. The series, set against the backdrop of wealth disparity and human desires in Korean society, narrates the story of individuals engaging in survival games. With 456 participants vying to be the last person standing for a lucrative prize, the series reveals intense deceit and betrayal under extreme pressure. It has reached monumental global acclaim, breaking records for the most viewing hours in Netflix history and winning several prestigious awards, including the Emmy for Best Director and Best Actor in a non-English language drama.

Looking ahead, Squid Game is expected to return with a highly anticipated Season 2, set for release on December 26, continuing the narrative of Gi-hun (portrayed by Lee Jung-jae), the victor of Season 1.

Source: wikitree

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