Apple has successfully defended itself against a copyright lawsuit filed by technology journalist Dan Ackerman, who claimed the company copied his book to create its 2023 film, Tetris.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Katherine Failla dismissed the lawsuit, ruling that the book and movie did not share enough original similarities to support Ackerman’s claims. The decision, issued in a federal court in New York, sided with Apple and The Tetris Company, the rights holder of the popular puzzle game.
Ackerman’s attorney, Kevin Landau, criticized the ruling, calling it “flawed” and confirming plans to appeal. However, representatives for Apple and The Tetris Company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ackerman’s book, The Tetris Effect: The Game That Hypnotized the World, was published in 2016. It explores the Soviet origins of Tetris and the global legal battle over its licensing rights. His lawsuit argued that Apple’s film adapted his work without permission, framing the story as a Cold War thriller.
Apple released Tetris on its Apple TV+ platform in 2023. Later that year, Ackerman filed the copyright complaint against the tech giant and The Tetris Company.
Judge Failla ruled that the lawsuit lacked merit, stating that the book and film primarily relied on historical facts, which are not protected by copyright law.
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