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MTV’s legal battle with Zeus Network is officially heating up — and at the center of the dispute is Nick Cannon.
A federal judge has denied Zeus’ attempt to toss the lawsuit over similarities between Wild ’N Out and Bad vs. Wild, allowing the case to move forward into discovery. Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that MTV presented enough of an argument to keep things alive — though the network still has to prove its claims in court.
MTV’s parent company Viacom accuses Zeus of essentially repackaging Wild ’N Out — even going as far as calling Bad vs. Wild a “cosplay” sequel designed to cash in on the franchise’s legacy.
But the judge wasn’t sold on everything. He dismissed Viacom’s copyright infringement claim, noting that reality shows often share similar formats, casting styles and themes — and that allowing those similarities alone to qualify as infringement could make it harder to create new shows.
While Nick Cannon is the primary focus of the comparison, he is not personally being sued. Still, the trademark claims remain in play, especially around the show’s name and branding — meaning this legal fight is far from over.
