Wipeout Sued by Japanese Broadcaster

Well, I can't say I didn't see this coming.  Actually, I kinda figured they bought the rights to some of MXC's stunts.  That is clearly not the case. 

Japanese broadcaster Tokyo Broadcasting System filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement claiming that the hit ABC show Wipeout is a "blatant copycat" of several Japanese game shows.  In particular MXC, which is already a big states hit on SpikeTV.  The lawsuit states that specifc obstacles were total knock-offs from many Japanese shows.

"From the moment ABC revealed 'Wipeout' to the public, that program has been routinely described as a 'rip-off" and 'knockoff" of Plaintiff's shows," reads the complaint, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. "ABC's willful and wrongful use of Plaintiff's shows to create 'Wipeout' is egregious, inexcusable and not to be tolerated."

Also among the charges are that ABC actually used search terms like "MXC" to help bring traffic to their site. 

I hope this doesn't mean the end for the big balls!