From Cosmopolitan · Samantha Olson · · 1m 10s
Chris Harrison's New Show Sparks Legal Clash
Chris Harrison's dating show 'The Vow' faces legal battle with 'Bachelor' producers over trademarked rose imagery.
In brief
Chris Harrison's dating show 'The Vow' faces legal battle with 'Bachelor' producers over trademarked rose imagery. Fox Nation's 'The Vow' trailer uses rose motifs similar to 'The Bachelor' franchise, prompting Warner Bros. Television to send a cease-and-desist letter. Originally reported by Cosmopolitan.
New Dating Show Trailer
Chris Harrison debuted a trailer for his Fox Nation dating show The Vow featuring roses and similar branding to his previous franchise.
Producers Issue Cease and Desist
Warner Brothers Television sent Fox Nation a cease-and-desist letter in September claiming The Vow was a direct copy of The Bachelor.
Fox Nation's Fair Use Defense
Fox Nation argued falling roses are a common romance trope and The Vow's trailer qualifies as fair use under copyright law.
Legal Dispute Details
The letter claims red roses are a central symbol of the franchise and The Vow's trailer directly copies promotional materials.
“Red roses are, of course, one of the central and instantly recognizable symbols of the Franchise, and this image from the Series teaser is plainly a direct copy of numerous Franchise promotional materials”
Fox Nation's Counterargument
Fox Nation responded that falling roses are scènes à faire and Warner Bros. cannot claim ownership of romance tropes.
Legal Battle Continues
Fox Nation claims The Vow's trailer parodies dating shows and Warner Bros. should drop its legal claims.
“The Vow exhorts its participants and viewers to 'Choose Love.' We trust Warner Bros. will do the same and drop its pursuit of these meritless claims.”
The big picture
Fox Nation's 'The Vow' trailer uses rose motifs similar to 'The Bachelor' franchise, prompting Warner Bros. Television to send a cease-and-desist letter.
