10 Jan NETFLIX SUED OVER TIGER KING ACE VENTURA CLIPS

The production company behind the Ace Ventura films is suing Netflix over the use of footage of Jim Carrey’s ‘pet detective’ character in the streaming giant’s hugely successful true crime Tiger King docuseries.

Morgan Creek Entertainment allege that Netflix and Tiger King production company, Goode Films, has infringed its copyright by including two clips from 1995’s Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls in the first episode of Tiger King(series 1) without permission or licence.

The episode aired in March 2020. Morgan Creek says that Ace Ventura 2 is the only film used in Tiger King in which more than one clip appears, and that the two clips complained of amount to approximately five seconds of screen time.

The first clip features the Ace Ventura character with a monkey wrapped around his neck and shoulder, and the second shows him riding an elephant.

The California-based company is now seeking at least $300,000 in damages, saying that the alleged infringements have caused it ‘substantial economic damage’, and that attempts between the parties to resolve the dispute themselves have failed.

Ace Ventura 2: When Nature Calls grossed over $108 million against a $30 million budget, according to Morgan Creek’s complaint.

Last month, animal rights activist Carole Baskin and her husband – whose rivalry with zoo owner and tiger enthusiast Joe Exotic featured in the first series – dropped a lawsuit against Netflix and Goode Films after a court rejected the couple’s request that the companies be legally barred from using any footage of them or their animal sanctuary in Tiger King’s second season, or any related advertising.

Netflix and Goode Films have yet to comment publicly on Morgan Creek’s lawsuit, although if no licence was obtained for use, it may be that ‘fair use’ is raised as a defence.  zoom-in will report on developments.