CBS Threatens Legal Action Against ABC's GLASS HOUSE Reality Show

According to The New York Times, CBS is attempting to prevent the ABC network from premiering its new summer reality show GLASS HOUSE, claiming the series is too close in concept to its long-running series 'Big Brother'. The show is scheduled to debut on June 18th. 

According to ABC's description of THE GLASS HOUSE, 14 contestants will live and compete for a quarter million dollars in a totally wired, state-of-the-art house, playing not just against each other, but also playing to win over the viewing audience each week. Both online and through their social networks, viewers will be encouraged to support and follow the contestants they like, their votes helping to determine which contestants are sent home and also which eliminated players will earn the chance to return to "The Glass House" to compete each week.

But viewer feedback doesn't end there! Several times a week, viewers can watch a live online feed of The Players and vote to decide everything from what players wear and eat to the games they play, even where they sleep. Viewers will also have the chance to give their favorite contestants feedback on their game from outside the house. How the contestants use that information is up to them, because in the end it's about who plays the best social game. The most important alliance players can have is with their fans.

CBS is planning to proceed with legal action for copyright infringement. Attorneys have released a cease-and-desist letter to ABC, which states: "In the strongest possible terms, we must admonish ABC and anyone involved in the development or production of Glass House that they will be acting at their own peril if they continue to proceed in this manner.

"CBS is informed that Glass House is being produced by a team of at least 18 former members of CBS' Big Brother production staff - all of whom were privy to trade secrets and other confidential, proprietary information and signed broad and binding nondisclosure agreements in connection with Big Brother."

The new season of Big Brother premieres on July 12 on CBS.

Photo courtesty of CBS

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