Marty Stouffer Files Lawsuit Against National Geographic For Infringement Of Famous "Wild America" Brand

ASPEN, Colo., Dec. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Marty Stouffer and Marty Stouffer Productions, Ltd., the creators of "Wild America," filed a lawsuit against National Geographic Partners, LLC and several other National Geographic entities (National Geographic) alleging that National Geographic infringed the Wild America brand in violation of federal trademark and copyright laws and state unfair competition laws.  The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, alleges that National Geographic engaged in continued efforts to misappropriate the fame and goodwill of Wild America, one of the most successful and long-running nature documentary television series ever created, in order to bolster its television programming on the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD.

Wild America, the brainchild of documentary-filmmaking brothers Marty and Mark Stouffer and their production studio Marty Stouffer Productions, initially debuted on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1982 to immediate success, where it continues to be the most broadcast television series in the history of PBS.  During its incredible 14-year run, Wild America was viewed by billions of viewers, with as many as 450 million viewers in some weeks alone.  Marty Stouffer Productions produced 120 half-hour episodes and 12 one-hour specials of Wild America.  As the Wild America brand grew, so too did it's place in popular culture, spawning books, tremendous home video sales and even a major motion picture based on Mark and Marty Stouffer's early lives, while also being featured in commercials for products such as Mountain Dew.  Today, the Wild America film library remains the single-largest collection of North American nature and wildlife film in the world.

Mark and Marty Stouffer's unique style touched every aspect of Wild America, from their unique filming style to the storylines of each episode to Marty Stouffer's role as the host of the series.  "The power of television is a force capable of changing our attitudes about protecting vulnerable animals from extinction," Marty Stouffer said.  "Wild America was created so that the average television viewer could uniquely experience the majestic beauty of nature in bold and exciting new ways."

As alleged in the lawsuit, National Geographic, which is owned by 21st Century Fox, looked to the success of Wild America as a template for its own success with the National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD, ultimately engaging in the misappropriation of many of the show's most fundamental elements.  One National Geographic executive even asked for permission from Marty Stouffer Productions to create a new show using the derivative titles "Wild Americas" or "Wildest Americas."  That request was denied by Marty Stouffer Productions.

According to the lawsuit, executives at National Geographic, who were very familiar with Wild America and the work of Mark and Marty Stouffer, initially discussed purchasing and/or licensing the Wild America film library, but ultimately decided to instead simply wholesale copy Wild America and the work of Marty Stouffer.  Since 2012, National Geographic has infringed the Wild America trademark and copyrights through the production of films, miniseries and television series including "Untamed Americas," "Surviving Wild America," "America the Wild" and "America's Wild Frontier."

National Geographic's infringement extends beyond confusingly similar names, copying Wild America down to its most essential elements, including Wild America's unique filming style, episode structure and titles, thematic elements and iconic imagery.  Even the host of America the Wild has an appearance and persona that is lifted straight off of Marty Stouffer himself.

"Imagine my surprise to turn on the television and see myself doing all of the things to which I have devoted my life – but it's not me and it's not Wild America, despite National Geographic's attempt to convince viewers otherwise," Stouffer says. "When it comes to protecting Wild America and my life's work, I am like a grizzly bear protecting its cubs." 

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent National Geographic from continuing to infringe the Wild America trademark and copyrights as well as monetary damages resulting from the harm caused to Marty Stouffer and Marty Stouffer Productions by National Geographic.  The case number is 1:18-CV-3127.

SOURCE Marty Stouffer Productions Ltd