MTV Lawsuit Against Nick Cannon’s ‘Bad vs. Wild’ Will Move Forward

A judge has ruled that MTV’s lawsuit against Zeus Network concerning Nick Cannon’s “Bad vs. Wild” will move forward, allowing the case to enter the discovery phase and potentially head to trial. MTV alleges that “Bad vs. Wild” infringes on the trademark of their show “Wild 'n Out” due to similarities in name and logo, and that Zeus Network intentionally mimicked “Wild 'n Out” by recruiting Nick Cannon as host. While the judge acknowledged potential trademark violations, MTV (formerly Viacom) must now provide evidence to support their claims.

The judge dismissed MTV’s copyright infringement claim, stating that many reality shows share similar themes and recruiting practices, and that finding copyright infringement based on thematic similarities would hinder the creation of new television content. The lawsuit focuses on Zeus Network allegedly attempting to capitalize on the established goodwill and recognition of “Wild 'n Out” by presenting “Bad vs. Wild” as a sequel.

Notably, Nick Cannon himself was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, despite being central to the dispute as the host of “Bad vs. Wild.” MTV’s lawyers argued that Zeus Network chose to “steal the fruits of Viacom’s goodwill and decades of labor and innovation” for financial gain.

(Source：Complex)