AceShowbiz - A federal judge has determined that part of MTV’s legal battle with Zeus Network over the series Bad vs. Wild will advance in court.

Viacom, the parent company of MTV, alleges that Bad vs. Wild unlawfully copies the format and style of the popular MTV show Wild 'N Out, which has been hosted by Nick Cannon since 2005. The lawsuit claims that Zeus’s series borrows “each and every” element from Wild 'N Out, including the title, format, and visual presentation, accusing Zeus of effectively “cosplaying” as a continuation of the original show.

On Monday, Judge Arun Subramanian dismissed MTV’s copyright infringement claims, stating that the similarities between the two programs are insufficient to prove illegal copying. The judge noted that if MTV’s copyright argument were accepted, many reality shows could potentially be liable for infringement, which would hinder the creation of new TV content.

However, the court did not dismiss MTV’s trademark claims. The judge ruled that the title and branding of Bad vs. Wild might mislead viewers due to their similarity to Wild 'N Out. Although MTV will need to provide stronger evidence at the summary judgment phase, the initial burden of proof has been met to allow these claims to move forward.

Notably, Nick Cannon is not named as a defendant in this lawsuit and is not accused of any wrongdoing in the matter.

Wild 'N Out has enjoyed a long run of over 20 seasons and has featured appearances by well-known artists including Snoop Dogg, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne.