After challenging a ruling over the hit TV musical, Glee, executives behind the series have lost a copyright appeal in Britain.
In 2011, Twentieth Century Fox was hit with legal action by Comic Enterprises, the owners of a chain of British comedy stores called The Glee Club.
Comic Enterprises claimed the programme’s popularity had affected its business as customers had been confused by the similarity in the names and had been “put off” from attending shows after learning they were not affiliated, reports contactmusic.com.
Glee producers were asked to change the name of the show for British broadcasts or pull the show from screens completely, after a ruling in Feburary, 2014, in the favour of Comic Enterprises.
The ruling was upheld in London’s High Court when the decision was challenged, with Twentieth Century Fox claiming the name change was unnecessary, unfair and disproportionate.
Twentieth Century Fox executives have been ordered to pay an interim of $170,000 (Dh624,000) in damages. A final amount will be determined at a later date.
