BBC Worldwide, RAI win 'Baila!' suit

ROME -- A Rome court on Monday ruled in favor of BBC Worldwide and Italo pubcaster RAI in their copyright infringement suit against Mediaset over dance show "Baila!," forcing Mediaset to make some last-minute changes before debuting the show on the air. Rome judge Gabrielle Muscolo ruled that Mediaset could not air the show with "some of the characteristics described by Mediaset in its written deposition." This prompted Italian media to initially report that Mediaset would pull the planned first airing of "Baila!" outright. But Mediaset, after much deliberation, in an afternoon statement announced that the show would air Monday night, as planned, on its Canale 5 flagship station, but taking careful note of a list of unspecified objections made by the Rome court. These stemmed from accusations of plagiarism. BBC and RAI claimed in their suit that "Baila!" would have illegally copied the BBC's "Dancing With the Stars" format. Monday's ruling was hailed as "historic" by RAI attorney Giorgio Assumma, who commented that it "will help regulate TV competition." Mediaset instead called the decision "unfair and erroneous," vowing to appeal "urgently" and requesting that it be annulled. The top Italian commercial broadcaster noted that the ruling was made without anyone "having seen even one minute of the new show, which will air tonight on Canale 5," read the statement. " 'Baila!' will carefully abide by all the objections raised by the Rome court, confident that they will subsequently swiftly cease to exist," the statement continued. The statement did not specify the types of changes Mediaset made to the show. "Baila!" is an Endemol format adapted from Televisa's popular Latin American format "Bailando por un sueno" (Dancing for a Dream). Mediaset has said that Endemol, from which it purchased the "Baila!" format, has guaranteed that it's original. In rejecting accusations of plagiarism Mediaset VP Pier Silvio Berlusconi has said that a key difference between the two shows is that "Baila!" pairs stars with amateur dancers, unlike "Dancing With the Stars," where celebs partner with pros. "Dancing With the Stars" is among the world's most successful reality TV format, licensed to more than 35 broadcasters. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

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