Tardigrades—microscopic creatures that can survive in outer space—played an important role in a recent copyright infringement suit involving the most recent incarnation of the famous Star Trek franchise. Plaintiff Anas Abdin alleged that the CBS Broadcasting Inc.’s show, Star Trek: Discovery, copied elements of his science fiction video game, Tardigrades. Specifically, Abdin alleged that the defendants copied the tardigrade and the plot, mood, characters, and overall feel from his video game. The Second Circuit concluded, however, that Abdin failed to plausibly allege that his video game and Discovery were substantially similar, and the court affirmed the dismissal of the suit.
