Back in 2016, Clayton Prince Tanksley launched a lawsuit against Daniels and co-creator Danny Strong, claiming that plot of the series was similar to his storyline for a show called 'Cream'.
- February 20, 2019
AceShowbiz - A copyright infringement lawsuit filed over Lee Daniels' hit hip-hop drama "Empire" has been tossed from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Actor Clayton Prince Tanksley initially sued Daniels and co-creator Danny Strong over the TV series in 2016, claiming the plot, which revolves around an African-American family dealing with the trials and tribulations of the music industry, was eerily similar to a storyline he had pitched for a show called "Cream" at a 2008 competition in Pennsylvania, where Daniels had served as a judge.
The case was heard in a trial court, where officials dismissed the claim, declaring the shows were not substantially similar, and appeals court lawmakers agreed.
Tanksley, who once appeared on "The Cosby Show", refused to give up and took his argument to the U.S. Supreme Court, but his latest effort was shot down on Tuesday, February 19 as the nation's top judges declined to hear his side of the story, effectively ruling in Daniels and Strong's favour.
