'Together' Film Faces $17 Million Copyright Lawsuit: Alison Brie And Dave Franco Respond

Michael

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Post on May 19, 2025

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Together Film Faces $17 Million Copyright Lawsuit: Alison Brie and Dave Franco Respond

The indie darling film Together, starring and directed by real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, is facing a significant legal hurdle. A $17 million copyright infringement lawsuit has been filed against the filmmakers, alleging the movie plagiarized substantial elements from an earlier, unreleased screenplay. This unexpected development throws a shadow over the film's critical success and raises questions about the future of independent filmmaking.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims that Together shares strikingly similar plot points, characters, dialogue, and overall thematic structure with an independently written screenplay titled "The Lovebirds." The plaintiff, an anonymous screenwriter represented by the high-profile law firm of Miller & Zois, alleges that substantial portions of "The Lovebirds" were directly copied without permission or attribution. The lawsuit seeks $17 million in damages, representing lost profits and compensation for copyright infringement.

The Allegations: Striking Similarities or Coincidence?

The lawsuit details numerous alleged similarities between the two screenplays, including:

• Central Premise: Both screenplays reportedly center on a struggling couple navigating the complexities of a long-term relationship during a period of self-isolation.
• Character Archetypes: The plaintiff claims that key character traits and relationships mirror those in "The Lovebirds," down to specific personality quirks and interactions.
• Dialogue and Scenes: Several specific scenes and lines of dialogue, according to the lawsuit, appear almost verbatim in Together.

While the specifics of the alleged similarities remain under seal pending further legal proceedings, the lawsuit's filing has already generated significant buzz within the Hollywood community. The case highlights the ever-present risk of unintentional or deliberate copyright infringement in the creative process. It also underscores the importance of thorough legal vetting before production begins on any film project.

Brie and Franco's Response: A Measured Reaction

Following the news of the lawsuit, Alison Brie and Dave Franco released a joint statement through their publicist, expressing their surprise and disappointment. The statement, carefully worded to avoid prejudicing the case, insisted on the originality of their work and promised a robust legal defense. They emphasized their commitment to artistic integrity and their belief in the independence of their creative vision. The full statement is expected to be released to the media shortly.

Implications for Independent Filmmaking:

This high-profile lawsuit has the potential to impact the independent film scene significantly. The considerable legal costs involved in defending against such a claim could be particularly damaging to smaller production companies and independent filmmakers with limited resources. The case raises critical questions about the balance between creative inspiration and outright plagiarism, and the challenges of protecting intellectual property rights in the increasingly interconnected world of filmmaking.

What's Next?

The legal battle is expected to be protracted, with discovery and pre-trial motions likely to dominate the coming months. Both sides will need to present compelling evidence to support their claims, and the outcome could have far-reaching implications for copyright law in the film industry. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. For further information on copyright law and intellectual property, you may wish to consult resources such as the . Stay tuned for further developments in this unfolding legal drama.