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A Montana filmmaker has filed a lawsuit against Netflix, NBA star LeBron James, and other Hollywood figures, alleging that they copied his copyrighted script to create the streaming platform’s recent film "Rez Ball." The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in a California federal court, claims that the film shares "striking similarities" with the plaintiff's original script, from character arcs and dialogue to scene sequences.

Filmmaker Rob Grabow Claims Copyright Infringement

The lawsuit was brought by filmmaker Rob Grabow and his company, Paradise Valley Pictures LLC. Grabow, known for his 2023 feature film "The Year of the Dog," is currently working on a new project titled "The Gift of the Game." He asserts that "Rez Ball" not only shares a similar premise with his script but also allegedly copies specific, expressive elements of his work.

"It's not that the two works share just the same general premise, which they do," Grabow stated in the 25-page complaint. He alleges that the film, co-created by James and other industry insiders, includes concrete details he had shared in confidence under a nondisclosure agreement (NDA).

Allegations of Breached Confidentiality Agreements

According to the complaint, Grabow’s script, registered with the U.S. Copyright Office, centers on a mixed-race high school basketball team’s journey to win a state championship, with themes focusing on community, race relations, and overcoming adversity. Grabow claims he reached out to several Hollywood professionals to collaborate on the film, including Brit Hensel, who had worked on the Emmy-nominated FX series "Reservation Dogs."

Grabow alleges that he sent Hensel a copy of his script after she expressed interest in collaborating. Both parties signed an NDA that prohibited the disclosure or replication of the script’s content. However, the lawsuit contends that Hensel breached this agreement, sharing the script’s details with third parties, including "Rez Ball" co-creators Sterlin Harjo and Sydney Freeland.

LeBron James and Netflix are sued by filmmaker : Parallel Storylines and Characters

"Rez Ball," which premiered on Netflix in early September, is credited as co-written by Harjo and Freeland, alongside contributions from James and Michael Powell, who authored the book "Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation." Despite the film’s ties to Powell's book, Grabow argues that the similarities between his script and the Netflix release are far more pronounced than those with Powell's source material.