Plagiarism, the war for Password adds a new demand in Spain

A new legal dispute has emerged in Spain over the popular game show Pasapalabra, adding another layer to the ongoing conflict between media companies. The controversy centers around AlaZ, a new game developed by Antena 3 under the ownership of Atresmedia, which is accused of copying elements from El Rosco, a long-running segment of Pasapalabra owned by MediaSet España and its subsidiary MC&F. The accusation claims that AlaZ reproduces too many features of the iconic letter wheel, sparking a renewed battle over intellectual property rights. The dispute began after the Spanish Supreme Court ruled in May that El Rosco was an independent and protected work, distinct from the broader format of Pasapalabra. Despite their close association with the show, the two segments belong to different owners: ITV controls the rights to Pasapalabra, while MC&F holds the rights to El Rosco. Following this ruling, Antena 3 was forced to remove El Rosco from its broadcasts and digital platforms. In response, MediaSet España, having previously acquired the rights to El Rosco, began developing a new version of the game centered around the letter wheel. Meanwhile, Atresmedia chose to keep Pasapalabra on air and replace El Rosco with AlaZ, an adaptation of a Swiss television format called DallAZetA. Now, MediaSet España has filed a lawsuit against Atresmedia and ITV Studios, alleging that AlaZ bears "insurmountable similarities" to El Rosco. The claim argues that despite superficial changes, the core mechanics of AlaZ remain fundamentally similar to the original format. These include the duel between two contestants, questions tied to the alphabet, time limits, accumulated prizes, and the continuity of participants across episodes. According to the complaint, these shared elements constitute a violation of intellectual property rights. Atresmedia has rejected the allegations, insisting that AlaZ is a distinct creation. The company claims it has strictly followed the court’s decision and obtained a license from the Swiss public broadcaster that owns DallAZetA. From Atresmedia's perspective, the modifications made to AlaZ, such as the linear display of letters instead of a circular wheel, the option to choose answer direction, and the inclusion of clues at the cost of time, demonstrate a clear departure from the original format. However, critics argue that these changes are merely surface-level adjustments that fail to alter the underlying structure of the game. The Argentine contestant who won Pasapalabra in Spain, Rosa Rodríguez, secured a prize of 2.7 million euros through her performance in the show. Her success highlights the popularity of the original format, which continues to resonate with audiences even as new versions attempt to replicate its appeal. Meanwhile, the version of Pasapalabra produced in Argentina has remained unchanged, indicating that the dispute primarily concerns the Spanish iteration of the show. The debate over whether AlaZ constitutes a derivative work or a genuine innovation reflects deeper tensions within the Spanish television industry. As both sides prepare for potential legal proceedings, the outcome could set a precedent for how intellectual property disputes involving game shows are handled in the future. For now, the situation remains unresolved, with neither side showing signs of backing down.