Netflix is suing Abigail Barlow and Emily Beare, the duo behind The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical, for copyright infringement, as Deadline first reported. The streaming giant filed the complaint in Washington, D.C., district court just days after Barlow and Bear performed a sold-out live concert dedicated to their Bridgerton-inspired album.
Following Bridgerton’s debut in 2020, Barlow and Bear began creating music based on the Netflix original series and promoting the venture on TikTok, where it quickly gained popularity. As fans demanded more content, Barlow and Bear soon had enough to create a 15-song album that won a Grammy in April, the first for music originating on TikTok. On July 26, Barlow and Bear performed a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, featuring live performances and music by the National Symphony Orchestra.
In its complaint, obtained by Deadline, Netflix claims that Barlow and Bear’s content “stretches ‘fan fiction’ well beyond its breaking point” and that it is “a clear violation of intellectual property rights.” Despite praising Barlow and Bear’s own work, Netflix claims it repeatedly told the pair that Bridgerton-inspired compositions were “not allowed.”
Netflix claims that Bridgerton’s unofficial live performance was also not approved by the company, and that Barlow and Bear “refused” to negotiate a license that would have allowed them to distribute their album and hold live performances without problems.
“Barlow & Bear did not have any license, approval or permission to use Bridgerton’s intellectual property in connection with the Kennedy Center performance,” Netflix said. “And to the extent that Barlow & Bear ever asserted that it believed it had such a license, approval or permission — despite Netflix’s clear representations to the contrary — it is now unequivocally revoked.”
Netflix goes on to claim that Barlow and Bear specifically used the Bridgerton brand throughout their show and “attracted Bridgerton fans who would otherwise have attended the Bridgerton Experience,” Netflix’s own Bridgerton-themed event that takes place at six individual cities throughout the year. Barlow and Bear are currently planning to perform together with the BBC Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in the UK this September.
“However, there is a difference between composing on TikTok and recording and performing commercially”
“Netflix supports fan-generated content, but Barlow & Bear have taken so many steps forward in trying to create multiple revenue streams for themselves without official permission to use the Bridgerton IP [intellectual property]Netflix said in a statement. “We tried hard to work with Barlow & Bear and they refused to cooperate with us. The creators, cast, writers and crew put their hearts and souls into Bridgerton, and we are taking action to protect their rights.”
Julia Quinn, the author behind Bridgerton’s series of books, says she was “flattered and delighted” when Barlow and Bear started creating TikToks based on the initial concept. “However, there is a difference between composing on TikTok and recording and performing commercially,” says Quinn. “I hope Barlow & Bear, who share my position as independent creative professionals, understand the need to protect the intellectual property of other professionals, including the characters and stories I created in the Bridgerton novels over twenty years ago.”
Shonda Rhimes, the producer of the Netflix series Bridgerton, issued a separate statement. “What started as a fun social media celebration by Barlow & Bear has turned into a blatant intellectual property grab for the sole financial benefit of Barlow & Bear,” adds Rhimes. “Just as Barlow & Bear would not allow others to appropriate their IP for profit, Netflix cannot stand by and allow Barlow & Bear to do the same to Bridgerton.”
Barlow and Bear did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
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