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Judge Finds 'Project Runway' Did Not Violate Copyright
New York Law Journal
October 03, 2008
A suit claiming that Miramax Film Corp. and supermodel Heidi Klum infringed on a copyright with their TV reality show "Project Runway" has been tossed out by a federal judge.
Fashion designer Cynthia Rodriguez and buyer and merchandiser Elizabeth Zwiebach claimed they developed a treatment for a reality show entitled "American Runway" that was stolen by "Project Runway."
Southern District of New York Judge Loretta A. Preska said the discussions between the plaintiffs and third parties never touched on their treatment "or the substance of the show," and instead focused only on marketing the show. In any event, the judge said, "... no reasonable jury could find that the plaintiffs' treatment and Project Runway are substantially similar."
While "Project Runway" was "focused on the search for the next great high-class fashion designer," she said, the plaintiffs' treatment was built on the "creation of a marketable clothing line."
The case is Rodriguez v. Heidi Klum Co.
