*A recently filed lawsuit has cast a shadow over a new Tyler Perry comedy series streaming on Netflix, accusing the production of infringing on the trademark of She The People, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women of color in politics.
According to the Clarion Ledger, Aimee Allison, the organization’s founder, has brought the case against actress Terri J. Vaughn, Netflix, Perry’s production company Tyler Vision LLC, and 25 unnamed defendants, alleging unauthorized use of intellectual property tied to her group.
Allison established She The People in 2018 to empower women of color pursuing political office or engaging in civic activism. The nonprofit has used its name for various initiatives, including political conferences and a podcast. According to the lawsuit, Allison collaborated with Nina Holiday Entertainment Inc. in 2020 to produce a documentary titled “She the People,” intended to highlight the organization’s mission.
During this process, Allison claims she worked closely with Vaughn, whom she believed was affiliated with the production company, sharing themes, interviews, and other materials. The lawsuit asserts that all intellectual property rights for the documentary were to remain with She The People.
The new Netflix comedy, set in Mississippi and written and directed by Perry, allegedly mirrors themes central to Allison’s activism, particularly the challenges Black women face in political spheres. The series depicts issues such as encountering Confederate symbols, being patronized with phrases like “good girl,” and facing unique restrictions not imposed on predecessors. Allison’s legal filing, submitted just days before the show’s debut, contends that these similarities reflect content from the unfinished documentary.
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Further complicating matters, the lawsuit claims Tyler Vision LLC attempted to secure a trademark for “She the People” in September, only to have the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reject the application in April. Allison is now seeking a jury trial to address the alleged infringement and unauthorized use of her organization’s name and themes.
Per Tudum: “In Perry’s first comedy series on Netflix, Terri J. Vaughn stars as a politician who wins her election — and then realizes her new job will involve a lot more than what she originally signed up for. The 16 episodes in Season 1 will premiere in two batches. Part 1 is now streaming, with Part 2 releasing Aug. 14.”
MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Tyler Perry’s 2025 Netflix Takeover: Every New Film and Series on the Way—Plus a Peek Inside Atlanta’s ‘She The People’ Premiere
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