Finalist Loses Case Against ‘Games of the Will
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Bulgarian reality TV Contestant’s Copyright Claim Reaches Supreme Court
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A contestant on the Bulgarian reality show “Games of the Will” is challenging the use of his image and performance recordings, with his case now before the supreme Court of Cassation.
Published December 29, 2023, updated december 29, 2025 02:06:23
The Case of Nikolay Zlatev
Nikolay Zlatev, a participant in the reality television programme ”Games of the Will,” has been involved in a legal dispute concerning his rights as an artist-performer. He alleges that his rights were violated through the use of photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, and promotional materials from the show’s first season.Zlatev initially sought BGN 300,000 (approximately $170,000 USD as of December 29,2025) in damages.
Lower courts – the Sofia City Court and the Sofia Court of Appeal – rejected Zlatev’s claims. However, the Supreme Court of Cassation has agreed to review the case, focusing on whether Zlatev’s participation in the show triggered copyright protections under the Copyright and Related Rights Act.
The Court’s Reasoning: Participant vs. Performer
the three-member panel of the Supreme Court distinguished Zlatev’s role from that of the show’s presenters, who are considered performers in the traditional sense. The court reasoned that Zlatev’s primary objective was to compete and win the prize, not to deliver a scripted performance. Even if a contestant deliberately cultivates a specific persona - such as a “misogynist,” as cited by the judges - this does not equate to a performance requiring copyright protection.
The court emphasized that Zlatev, by signing the player’s contract, granted the show’s executive producer broad rights to photograph, film, record, use, edit, and adapt any materials created during the filming of “Games of the Will.”
Zlatev’s Notable Run on “Games of the Will“
Zlatev’s participation in “Games of the Will” was remarkably successful. Over 66 episodes, he secured 26 individual victories and remained undefeated in challenges. This success likely contributed to his prominence and the subsequent use of his image in promotional materials.
Implications for Reality TV Participants
The outcome of this case could have meaningful