With the rights to 50 Shades of Grey being worth more than maybe any other movie yet to be made, Universal is being very protective. The film studio bought the rights and is currently in the process of making the film.
While porn companies regularly make "adaptations" of other films, the substance of the 50 Shades of Grey series makes the porn version a touchy subject. Universal says the porn studio based the movie directly on the book, without attempting to make it a parody or any other genre that would make it somewhat acceptable.
"The lawsuit said that Los Angeles–based Smash Pictures had produced a movie called Fifty Shades of Grey: A XXX Adaptation which lifted 'exact dialogue, characters, events, story, and style from the Fifty Shades trilogy,'" said Reuters. The report continued by quoting the lawsuit: "The first XXX adaptation is not a parody, and it does not comment on, criticize, or ridicule the originals. It is a rip-off, plain and simple."
Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels, written by E.L. James, have reportedly sold over 40 million copies after being released a little over a year ago. Reuters said that Universal bought the film rights to the entire series for $5 million earlier this year.
The lawsuit was filed by both Universal and James' company. She currently owns the copyright to the novels. The lawsuit is looking not just at the proceeds from the film but also at money earned from any subsequent films or products made with the name or likeness of the 50 Shades brand.
"Universal said Smash Pictures had two subsequent movies in production and that one of its subsidiaries had also launched a 'Play Kit' of kinky sex toys called 'Fifty Shades of Pleasure,'" said Reuters.
"The lawsuit seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and profits from sales of the movies, which it says are trademark and copyright infringements."
The real film is currently in pre-production. However, given the storyline of Fifty Shades of Grey, you have to wonder how far from the porn version the Universal movie will be.