Bengle Mangle Productions, a California production company, filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Seth MacFarlane, producer Media Rights Capital, and distributor Universal Studios for stealing the idea for the foul, R-rated teddy bear comedy “Ted,” citing it is “strikingly similar” to the womanizing one in its 2008 screenplay “Acting School Academy.”
The bear from the screenplay is named Charlie, who the suit claims lives in an adult world with human friends, and has a “penchant for drinking, smoking, prostitutes, and is a generally vulgar yet humorous character.”
Charlie became featured in a web series, which the suit says got 1.2 million views. Here’s a clip from “Acting School Academy.”
A sequel for “Ted” is in the works, and neither MacFarlane nor Universal Studios has made a comment.