Canadian BBC Show's Copyright Case Goes Before CA Court

A $5 million lawsuit against BBC America’s “Orphan Black” television show will be heard in California. Plaintiff Stephen Hendricks had to show the case was “exceptional” in order to have the case heard there. Hendricks is suing Canada-based Temple Street Productions for allegedly taking the concept of his script, called “Double Double,” and using it to create the “Orphan Black” series. Temple Street and its co-president David Fortier argued for Canadian jurisdiction. U.S. District Judge Ronald Lew rejected their claim that flying multiple witnesses to California for a trial was unreasonable and inconvenient. “Mere inconvenience will not suffice,” he said.