### Allegations of Copyright Infringement Hit Broadway's 'Stereophonic'

Ken Caillat, a former sound engineer-turned-music producer, and his co-author Steven Stiefel have recently filed a lawsuit against the creators of the Broadway play *Stereophonic*. The suit was filed in the United States Southern District Court of New York, asserting that playwright David Adjmi improperly drew from their 2012 memoir *Making Rumours* for the play. The memoir, which recounts Caillat's experiences working on Fleetwood Mac’s iconic album *Rumours*, is described as the "heart and soul" of the play in the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, specific and unique aspects of *Making Rumours* were taken without permission. One of the prime examples mentioned is the inclusion of a sound engineer character in *Stereophonic*. Similar to Caillat's role in Fleetwood Mac's production history, the character, named Grover, evolves from sound engineer to producer amidst the band's tumultuous recording sessions. The suit highlights that particular dialogues and incidents in the play strikingly mirror those in the memoir.

Another notable instance cited in the lawsuit involves a scene where Grover follows orders to erase a guitar take, leading to a violent outburst from the Lindsey Buckingham-like character named Peter. This scene, the lawsuit claims, closely parallels an account from *Making Rumours* where Caillat undergoes a similar experience with Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.

In response to the allegations, David Adjmi commented to The New Yorker that his play drew from multiple inspirations, including his own personal experiences, to create a fictional narrative. While he acknowledged *Making Rumours* as a commendable work, he insisted that any similarities with his play were unintentional.

Adjmi expanded on his creative process in a May 24 interview with *Deadline*, explaining how he blends real-life elements with fiction to build his characters and storyline. For instance, he conceded using superficial details like the Olympian brother of a Lindsey Buckingham-inspired character to construct a more dramatic narrative. Adjmi maintained that while his play may bear some resemblances to real-life events, it is ultimately an original invention.

The lawsuit, filed by Greenberg Gross LLP, names several other defendants including Playwrights Horizons, The Shubert Organization, and various production companies. Caillat and Stiefel are seeking a jury trial, unspecified damages for copyright infringement, and an injunction to halt the further production and exploitation of *Stereophonic*.

While parody can constitute fair use—as seen in Adjmi's previous play *3C* that parodied *Three's Company*—Caillat and Stiefel's lawsuit differentiates their case by accusing *Stereophonic* of non-parodic and unauthorized use of their work. This legal move evokes memories of past controversies where fictionalized versions of real stories navigated complex copyright waters, yet not all resulted in legal action.

*Deadline* has made attempts to reach Adjmi and representatives for *Stereophonic* for further comments on the ongoing lawsuit.