Netflix and Tyler Perry are in hot legal water. The streaming platform and the filmmaker have been hit with a lawsuit over their new series She The People, with the plaintiffs claiming the title was used without permission and infringes on a trademark that was already in place.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this week, says that She The People is not just a creative phrase—it is a legally protected name belonging to a political storytelling platform that centers on women of color. The platform’s founder claims the brand has been active for years, building a strong identity through advocacy, media, and community engagement. Now, with the Netflix series using the same title, they say their work is being overshadowed and misrepresented.
“This is more than a name. It represents a mission and a movement,” the plaintiff’s attorney said in a statement. “When a major company and a high-profile creator take that name and attach it to a new product, it confuses the public and devalues what the original brand has built.”
The lawsuit also claims that Netflix and Perry were either aware or should have been aware of the existing trademark. The plaintiffs argue that the series could cause lasting damage to their visibility and credibility, especially if viewers mistakenly assume there is a partnership or endorsement involved.
Neither Netflix nor Tyler Perry has made a public statement about the case. A spokesperson for Netflix declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The series itself, which was recently announced as part of Perry’s growing list of projects with the platform, has not yet premiered.
The legal team behind the original She The People is asking the court for financial compensation and a halt to the use of the name in any promotional or commercial material tied to the Netflix series.
As the case unfolds, it raises broader questions about ownership, visibility, and fairness in the entertainment industry especially when large media companies move into spaces created by independent or grassroots voices. For now, the future of the show’s title hangs in the balance.
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