Black Mirror is one of the highest-rated series in the premium streaming service Netflix, so it’s no wonder that when the creators announced the first full-length film in the series, Bandersnatch, viewers eagerly waited for its release.
And indeed, Bandersnatch was a complete revolution. Not only is it the first film in the Black Mirror franchise, it is also the very first interactive film to be released on the streaming site. Viewers were able to control the main character’s decisions throughout the entire film, and the outcome of the story depended on those very choices. Bandersnatch was a whole new experience. More than a film, it was also a game, reminiscent of those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure stories that we enjoyed back when we were younger.
That is probably why Chooseco, the company behind those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure stories, is now suing Netflix over their creation of Bandersnatch. According to an article published by Polygon, Chooseco “takes issue with Bandersnatch’s protagonist Stefan Butler describing a fictitious interactive novel (which is also titled Bandersnatch) as a ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ book, implying it’s an official part of the series.”
This is made worse by the fact that, true to Black Mirror fashion, Bandersnatch is much ‘darker’ than any of the official Choose Your Own Adventure books. Those who have already watched the film will know that it contains instances and mentions of illegal drug use, mental illness, suicide, murder, mutilation of corpses, among many others. Chooseco claims, “Association with this grim content tarnishes Chooseco’s famous trademark.”
According to the article, Chooseco is asking for damages of $25 million minimum for Netflix’s alleged infringement. As of now, Netflix still hasn’t made any comments about this matter.
