Court Case
Shazam Productions Limited v Only Fools The Dining Experience Limited and Others, 2022 is a copyright case in the United Kingdom. Shazam initiated legal action to stop the performance of an interactive dining show called “Only Fools The (cushty) Dining Experience.” This show featured Del Boy and other main characters from the comedy using their traits and backstories in an interactive pub quiz format. The defendants did not seek Shazam’s approval, leading to a lawsuit for copyright infringement and passing off, as many people might have believed the show was an authorised spin-off. The claimant, Shazam, was a company owned by the family of John Sullivan (d.2011), the creator and writer of the award-winning television British TV sitcom “Only Fools and Horses” (1980s and 1990s). The defendants argued that their use was fair dealing, in particular for the purpose of parody and pastiche. Although this exception has been widely discussed, this case was the first time a UK court tested the defence.The author takes no responsibility for the content of this page, which is not intended as binding legal advice. The views are about copyright in the UK Higher Education sector context.