The musical was first conceived on social media by the songwriting duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear. The pair eventually earned a Grammy this year for best musical theatre album, landing them at No. 1 on the iTunes U.S. pop charts.
According to Netflix, it “repeatedly objected” to the team’s plans to create a live stage show of the project. This week, “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical Album Live in Concert” played to a sold-out Kennedy Center audience in Washington, D.C., with tickets costing up to $149.
More than a dozen songs in the stage production apparently contained lyrics, character qualities, facial expressions, and other features that were mostly lifted from “Bridgerton”.
The streamer claimed that “The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical Album Live in Concert” misled to viewers that it had obtained permission to use the “Bridgerton” brand. Netflix is also against the production’s impending tour dates as well as an apparently planned range of goods. Representatives of Barlow & Bear were unavailable to comment on the case right away.
“Netflix supports fan-generated content, but Barlow & Bear attempted to create multiple revenue streams for themselves without formal permission to use the ‘Bridgerton’ IP,” Netflix wrote in a statement. “We have tried hard to work with Barlow and Baer, and they have refused to cooperate. The creators, cast, writers and crew have poured their hearts and souls into ‘Bridgerton,’ and we are taking action to protect the rights.
Netflix released a statement saying that while it “supports fan-generated content, Barlow & Bear attempted to create various revenue streams for themselves without legal licence to exploit the ‘Bridgerton’ IP.” “Despite our best efforts, Barlow and Baer have shown little interest in collaborating. We are taking action to secure the rights since “Bridgertoncreators cast, writers, and crew have given their all .
“It’s amazing to see viewers continuing to appreciate ‘Bridgeton’ and show their affection in unique ways,” said Shonda Rhimes, creator of the “Bridgeton” television series. via social media, Barlow & Bear What began as a lighthearted celebration has evolved into the theft of intellectual property for Barlow & Beer’s exclusive financial gain. The work of several individuals helped Julia Quinn bring her creation to life on television. Netflix cannot remain silent and permit Barlow & Bear to appropriate “Bridgerton” in the same way that it will not tolerate others using its IP for commercial gain.
