Netflix is ​​accused of stealing “Squid Game”? This is what we know

The filmmaker behind the Hindi film “Luck” is suing Netflix in federal court, claiming that the hugely successful series “Squid Game” stole his own project, which was released in 2009 (according to TMZ and Fortune). In a lawsuit filed in New York on Friday, screenwriter and director Soham Shah claimed: “The main plot, characters, themes, mood, setting and sequence of events of 'Squid Game' are strikingly similar to those of 'Luck' and it is virtually impossible that such similarities could be coincidental.”

Shah is suing for unspecified damages, but is also seeking an injunction to prevent Netflix from continuing to market and monetize “Squid Game” and related products, which he claims continue to infringe on his rights. While this type of lawsuit is fairly common (and difficult to prove in favor of the plaintiff), it can also be a lengthy and costly process for everyone involved. Last year, a 2020 lawsuit against the streamer's other big hit series, “Stranger Things,” was finally dropped — three years after it was filed and just weeks before trial.

Unlike many similar lawsuits, however, Shah does not appear to allege any specific connection between the cast or crew of “Luck” and that of “Squid Games” that could have led to the alleged plagiarism. Instead, his suit reportedly claims that the 2009 film was widely available due to “significant advertising and marketing.” This may have led to “Squid Game” copying the film when (according to TMZ's interpretation of the plaintiff's theory) someone involved with the show – presumably series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, who said he wrote the show in 2009 – saw “Luck.”

Shah's lawsuit argues that both stories involve a “group of desperate, indebted people” who are tricked into participating in a series of gambling games to win large sums of money, only to later discover that losing the game means death. According to TMZ's summary of the lawsuit documents, Shah's film also features “wealthy spectators betting on the players and reveling in the high-stakes competition” as the players try to stay alive without selling their souls in the process.

Of course, there are other major films that feature a group of people competing in a deadly game for a cash prize, such as 2019's Escape Room. This film also shows that the torture games are entertainment for wealthy audiences, an idea rooted in the urban legend of the “red rooms.” And both Escape Room and Squid Game undoubtedly owe their inspiration to the mega-popular Hunger Games series and their own predecessor, the Japanese horror franchise Battle Royale.

A Netflix spokesperson only commented to Fortune on the lawsuit: “This claim is without merit. 'Squid Game' was created and written by Hwang Dong Hyuk and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves against this matter.”

“Luck” grossed less than half a million dollars in theaters worldwide, although Shah's claim that the film brought in publicity is partly backed up by several award nominations that star Shruti Haasan received for her role. A 2009 review of “Luck” in The Indian Express described the plot as follows:

“Ram is a normal guy who needs a lot of money. The same goes for Ayesha, Major and Shortcut. Then comes the big betting man Musa and his right-hand man, who collect this cash-strapped group and take them to South Africa, where they bet their lives on their luck.”

“Squid Game” became a famously lucrative franchise for Netflix almost overnight when the first season aired in 2021. Bloomberg has reported that the series and its associated merchandise and accompanying products are worth a whopping $900 million and continuing to rise.

The second season of “Squid Game” is scheduled to be released on December 26, 2024.