In a decisive turn of events, Mediaset has secured victory in a fresh legal clash with ITV Studios concerning the game show Pasapalabra. The Supreme Court accepted Mediaset’s objection, overturning the prior ruling that had granted substantial compensation to ITV Studios and effectively nullified the second payout amounting to 8.7 million euros. The British production company had argued that the conflicts in the contract had been resolved already, asserting a completed remedy. This is a continuation of the case that began with the 2019 decision which Mediaset contends was not properly resolved in its favor at the time.
According to the Civil Division of the Supreme Court, Mediaset has already remedied the damages caused by the alleged infringing conduct and has covered the amount of compensation previously ordered in the first adjudication. The court document emphasizes that the remedy actions were taken to address the harm and that the financial obligations tied to the initial dispute have been satisfied as a matter of record. This framing underscores the broader aim of aligning the parties with the terms of the contract and the expectations of fair conduct in broadcasting and associated rights management.
The Supreme Court further clarified that Telecinco must immediately cease any ongoing actions that would contravene the ruling, and barred further broadcasting, editing, producing, reproducing, distributing, or publicly disclosing the Pasapalabra program itself or any material created by third parties that imitates or closely mirrors its format. The court also prohibited the broadcasting of any other television program that replicates or uses a name substantially similar to Pasapalabra, reflecting a strict stance on brand protection and format exploitation. This set of prohibitions is designed to prevent ongoing or future infringement and to safeguard the intellectual property interests implicated in the format and its distinctive title.
Beyond these prohibitions, the Supreme Court issued a combined financial judgment totaling twelve million two hundred eighty-four thousand euros in favor of ITV Studios, comprising five million four hundred thousand euros tied to the Pasapalabra agreement heads contract and six million eight hundred eighty-four thousand euros linked to the heads of library minimum commitment agreement, with interest calculated as applicable. This cumulative figure represents the court’s attempt to quantify the economic impact of the contested actions, while also reinforcing the importance of contractual integrity and the protection of creative assets within the broadcasting landscape.
Following the decision, both Mediaset and ITV Studios petitioned the court seeking clarification on the economic consequences flowing from the ruling. In a subsequent court order, Telecinco and the Cuatro group were found liable to pay ITV Studios an additional eight million seven hundred thousand euros in compensation for losses continuing from December two thousand seventeen up to the point at which the broadcast of the competing program was halted, according to the Supreme Court’s assessment. This aspect of the judgment highlights the enduring financial ramifications of contractual disputes in the entertainment industry and the careful delineation of damages attributable to restricted or halted programming in the wake of court rulings.