ABC and production company Endemol have settled a 2008 lawsuit brought by Tokyo Broadcasting System alleging their show "Wipeout" was a ripoff of its shows.
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Tokyo Broadcasting had alleged "Wipeout," a competition show, infringed on its copyrights by using key elements of its shows, such as "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge," "Tawsha's Castle" and 'Ninja Warrior."
ABC and Endemol countered that Tokyo Broadcasting was out of bounds by claiming copyright protection for such "ubiquitous" obstacle concepts as "rope swings, mechanical bulls and pole vaults."
The settlement headed off a trial that was slated to have started this year.