In our lawsuit crazy society, suing even the big boys is getting quite common. Netflix is getting hit but the amount is so small that it is a joke for the multi-billion-dollar company.
Laureano Oubiña, a former Spanish drug smuggler, has pursued legal action against Netflix, resulting in a court ruling that mandates the streaming giant to both pay him 15,000 euros (approximately $16,200) for privacy infringement and to remove a controversial sex scene from the series “Cocaine Coast” (“Fariña”). This series portrays the rise of a young fisherman into the drug trade in 1980s Galicia, Spain.
🎥 A Audiencia de #Pontevedra ordena a @atresmediacom @BambuProdu e a @netflix a indemnizar con 15.000 euros a Laureano #Oubiña por vulnerar o seu dereito á intimidade nunha escena sexual da serie #Fariña
📄 Nota informativa 👇 pic.twitter.com/0rfUxwAx1D
— TSXG (@TSXGalicia) June 26, 2024
Last year, Oubiña demanded compensation of 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) from Netflix, arguing that his depiction in the show caused him substantial “moral damage,” as reported by a major London newspaper. He claimed the series worsened his public image significantly by casting him in a highly negative light, attributing traits to him such as violent, sexist, and foolish, among others.
Additionally, Oubiña took particular issue with a scene depicting him as unable to engage sexually with his wife during a prison visit, which he argued was a severe misrepresentation. However, the court dismissed his other grievances, leaving room for appeal.
The contentious scene, which opened the series’ first episode, was deemed by the court as gratuitous, aimed solely at attracting viewers. Netflix has faced various legal challenges recently, with several lawsuits over its depiction of real-life events. For instance, last month, Fiona Harvey sued Netflix for over $170 million, claiming the character Martha in “Baby Reindeer” was unmistakably modeled after her, damaging her reputation.
La Audiencia de Pontevedra ha sentenciado que Netflix, Atresmedia y la productora Bambú deberán indemnizar al extraficante gallego Laureano Oubiña con 15.000 euros por vulnerar su derecho a la intimidad en una escena sexual de la serie ‘Fariña’. pic.twitter.com/4GtAVMRH1K
— @FGP66 (@FGP66) June 27, 2024
Moreover, earlier this year, the family of the late Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco settled a lawsuit with Netflix. They argued that the streamer had used their family’s likeness without proper authorization in the series “Griselda.”
Despite these issues, representatives from Netflix have expressed their intention to vigorously defend their productions and uphold creators’ rights to share their narratives. Currently, “Cocaine Coast” is unavailable for viewing in the U.S.
Major Points
- Laureano Oubiña, a former Spanish drug smuggler, successfully sued Netflix, resulting in the removal of a sex scene from the series “Cocaine Coast” and a court order for Netflix to pay him 15,000 euros for privacy violations.
- Oubiña had initially sought 1.5 million euros, claiming the series portrayed him negatively and caused him “moral damage.”
- The court dismissed Oubiña’s other complaints but agreed that the specific sex scene was unnecessary and solely aimed to attract viewers.
- The legal issues Netflix faces are mounting, as this case is among several lawsuits concerning the portrayal of real-life figures, including a major suit filed by Fiona Harvey and the family of Griselda Blanco.
- “Cocaine Coast” is currently not available for viewing in the U.S., and Netflix intends to defend its creative rights vigorously.
Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
