- Guy Ritchie releases a legal defense against plagiarism allegations for his film “The Gentlemen.”
- Ritchie’s lawyers argue that the lawsuit is a “shake-down” and the works have significant differences.
- The plaintiff in the case, a writer named Mirwais Mirzai, is seeking substantial compensation for the alleged theft.
Film director Guy Ritchie recently presented a legal defense in response to accusations of plagiarism for his film “The Gentlemen.” Ritchie has been sued by a writer named Mirwais Mirzai, who claims that the film is too similar to his screenplay entitled “The Persian.” This legal action has led to Ritchie’s legal team claiming that the lawsuit is nothing more than a “shake-down.”
According to Ritchie’s legal defense, “The Gentlemen” and “The Persian” have significant dissimilarities. His lawyers argue that any basic similarities between the two works are the result of “the common stock of ideas and situations in the crime genre,” rather than plagiarism.
In particular, Ritchie’s legal team highlighted several substantial differences between the two works in terms of plot, character, and dialogue. These include variations in the criminal enterprises depicted in each story, contrasting protagonist motivations, and divergent story arcs. Additionally, Ritchie’s lawyers emphasized that the two works are set in different countries and have distinct themes.
Mirwais Mirzai, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, is seeking significant monetary compensation for the alleged theft of his ideas. However, Ritchie’s legal team has requested that the suit be dismissed, asserting that the claim is baseless and that Mirzai’s screenplay failed to secure any interest from producers or agents.
This legal defense hopes to showcase that the alleged similarities are not the result of plagiarism, but rather shared themes common within the crime genre. As the case continues, Ritchie’s legal team will need to prove that “The Gentlemen” is a unique work, separate from Mirzai’s screenplay “The Persian.”