Jury Rules in Favor of Shyamalan and Apple in "Servant" Copyright Trial

On Friday, a federal jury unanimously ruled in favor of renowned director M. Night Shyamalan and technology giant Apple in a copyright trial involving allegations of stolen elements used in the acclaimed streaming series "Servant."

The seven-day trial, held in Riverside, California, saw Italian director Francesca Gregorini seek damages of up to $81 million. Gregorini alleged that Shyamalan and his collaborators had appropriated narrative elements from her 2013 film, "The Truth About Emanuel," without proper credit.

Gregorini's film features a delusional mother who treats a baby doll as her own child, with a nanny who reinforces this false reality. Gregorini asserted that "Servant" exhibited striking plot similarities to her work.

Shyamalan testified under oath that neither he nor the other show creators had any knowledge of Gregorini's film prior to the litigation. He emphasized that the situation was "100% a misunderstanding."

Gregorini, who had initially been advised against pursuing legal action, expressed her determination to stand against such alleged theft, which she claims is rampant within the industry.

Defense attorneys argued that significant differences existed between the two works. They characterized "Servant" as a supernatural thriller, contrasting it with "The Truth About Emanuel," which they described as a coming-of-age drama.

When questioned about specific elements allegedly borrowed from "Emanuel," Shyamalan maintained that such aspects, such as a character fainting, were not particularly original.

The jury was presented with screenings of the film and the first three episodes of "Servant." They also received testimony from experts in filmmaking and Apple's financial situation.

This verdict concludes a five-year legal battle that began with a lawsuit filed in 2020, shortly after "Servant" premiered on Apple TV+. The series has since concluded its four-season run.

Keywords: M. Night Shyamalan, Servant, Copyright Trial, Intellectual Property, Narrative Similarity, Original Elements, Film Industry Ethics