Photo Credit: Nick Cannon by Cameron Woods / CC by 4.0
A judge rules that MTV’s case against Zeus Network over Nick Cannon’s new show “Bad vs. Wild” for its similarities to “Wild ‘n Out” can move forward.
On Monday, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that MTV’s lawsuit against Zeus Network over Nick Cannon’s show “Bad vs. Wild” can move into discovery, opting not to dismiss the case. MTV and its former parent company Viacom accused of Zeus Network’s program of not only being remarkably similar to its own “Wild ‘n Out,” but that it is illegally implied to be a sequel, especially given that Nick Cannon was selected to host.
“In an era where original content is at a premium, Zeus has chosen the path of least resistance: stealing the fruits of Viacom’s goodwill and decades of labor and innovation, and pawning it off as its own original idea for its own financial gain,” Viacom’s attorneys claimed in their suit.
In his ruling, Judge Subramanian noted that while Viacom provided a sufficiently strong argument to necessitate moving the case into discovery, the company must now provide sufficient evidence to support that accusation in the event of a trial. However, the judge dismissed Viacom’s claim of copyright infringement, noting that “many reality shows […] would be liable for copyright infringement, as they often recruit the same individuals, place them in similar scenarios, and have similar pacing and themes.”
“There is a reason that Viacom can only point to a single case for support; if thematic similarities sufficed for a copyright-infringement claim, it would make the development of new television shows much more difficult,” Judge Subramanian added.
Notably, while Nick Cannon’s role as the host of both programs is a key aspect of the case, he is not named as a defendant in Viacom’s lawsuit.
The 45-year-old Cannon got his career start on the Nickelodeon show “All That” in the 1990s, but he began his music career as a rapper when he was a teen and signed with Jive Records in 2001. His 2003 single “Gigolo” featuring R. Kelly peaked in the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2003, Cannon created, produced, and hosted MTV’s improv comedy series, “Wild ‘n Out.” MTV2 revived the program in 2013, and this version was also produced by Cannon’s NCredible Entertainment. Zeus Network’s “Bad vs. Wild” premiered in 2024 and features an all-female cast from “Baddies” and other reality shows. Like “Wild ‘n Out,” the show is also produced by Cannon’s NCredible Entertainment.
