CBS sues ABC over reality show ‘carbon copy’

CBS is suing ABC after accusations that the network is copying the former's reality show hit 'Big Brother' with the new series 'The Glass House.'

The copyright infringement suit was filed in a district court in Los Angeles.

CBS wants an injunction to stop the show from airing plus $500,000 for each violation of non-disclosure agreements Big Brother staff signed, Reuters reported.

The complaint says that former Big Brother employees breached their contracts and gave away trade secrets.

The complaint against ABC read, "If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then CBS should take pride in ABC's latest reality television project."

The statement went on to say that the new television series is an obvious attempt at copying Big Brother.

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Like Big Brother, the Glass House, which will air June 18, features over a dozen contestants who live together in a house and are filmed constantly.

Big Brother began airing in 2000 and was wildy popular, with many subsequent series' trying to imitate its success.

ABC has rejected the suit as baseless.

“We believe there is no merit to this lawsuit," said ABC in a statement, reported MSNBC.

"The differences between 'Glass House' and 'Big Brother' are both fundamental and obvious, ranging from 'Glass House’s' interactive elements and audience participation to its deployment of cutting edge technologies.”

The case is called CBS Broadcasting Inc v. American Broadcasting Cos et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 12-04073.