Netflix Wins "Tiger King" Copyright Case

A U.S. appeals court has sided with Netflix in a copyright infringement lawsuit concerning footage used in the popular documentary series "Tiger King." The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on April 30th that Netflix made fair use of one video clip filmed by Timothy Sepi. This decision reaffirms Netflix's position in the ongoing legal battle.

The court's ruling stated that Netflix's use of the clip, which depicted a eulogy, was transformative and fit within common documentary practices. This follows an earlier reversal by the same court, which had revived Sepi's claim. Netflix had argued that the initial reversal could negatively impact documentary filmmakers who use archival material.

Sepi had sued Netflix in 2020, alleging that eight of his video clips were used in the series without his permission. A lower court had initially ruled in favor of Netflix on seven clips and found fair use for an eighth. The appeals court's latest decision concludes the legal dispute, affirming Netflix's rights for all utilized footage from the series.