Aequo advises Ukraina TV channel on the Masked Singer television format dispute

Aequo advised Ukraina TV channel on Ukrainian and English law, arbitration, and IP matters in a dispute regarding the world-known Masked Singer TV format.

Our client acquired an exclusively licence for the use in Ukraine of the Masked Singer TV format from Freemantle, a world-leading TV distribution company. The dispute arose in connection with the airing of a TV show by a competitor TV channel in Ukraine claiming that the basis for his show was the Mysteries in the Spotlight format purchased from Romanian Antena TV. The dispute successfully ended in a settlement securing the exclusive use of the Masked Singer TV format by our client and adaptation of the other show to respect our client’s exclusive rights.

The matter is regarded as a landmark case in the Ukrainian TV market.