CBS THROWS LEGAL STONES AT ABC’S GLASS HOUSE

Claiming copyright infringement, CBS has asked a federal court in Los Angeles to block ABC’s upcoming reality series Glass House, maintaining that it is a virtual “carbon copy” of its own successful series, Big Brother. The lawsuit further claims that the ABC show’s producers, most of whom had worked on Big Brother, have breached nondisclosure agreements that they signed upon their departure. In fact, CBS observes, 19 former Big Brother staffers are involved in the production of Glass House. The suit further alleges trade-secret misappropriation, breach of contract and conspiracy. The ABC show is scheduled to debut on June 18. ABC issued a statement saying that the CBS lawsuit is without merit given “fundamental and obvious” differences between the two shows.