Universal Studios has filed a copyright lawsuit against Los Angeles-based adult film production company Smash Pictures, claiming that material from EL James’ best-selling trilogy Fifty Shades of Grey was directly lifted.
It said that Smash Pictures used dialogue, characters, events, story and style for Fifty Shades of Grey: A XXX Adaptation,’ the BBC reported
Universal, which has bought the film rights of the trilogy, said it is “a rip-off plain and simple.”
“The first XXX adaptation is not a parody, and it does not comment on, criticise, or ridicule the originals,” it said.
The lawsuit was filed by both Universal and James’ British company, which owns the copyright to the novels first published in 2011.
It seeks unspecified damages, an injunction and aims to recoup any profit from sales of their adaptation.
Two subsequent movies by Smash Pictures were reportedly in production, claims Universal.