The Traitors, one of the BBC's most successful shows since its 2022 launch, has come under scrutiny after a French games designer claimed the hit reality show owes its success to a card game he co-created.
The gripping reality competition centres on deception, strategy, and betrayal, as contestants attempt to identify the Traitors hiding amongst them. Alongside a game of trust and suspicion, players must work together to complete a series of physical and mental challenges, building a shared prize pot of cash. If the Traitors successfully deceive the Faithfuls, they can claim the entire prize pot for themselves. With more than 35 international versions now available, The Traitors has become a global phenomenon.
Plagiarism Allegations
Philippe des Pallières believes the similarities between The Traitors and his game go far beyond coincidence, describing it as an act of theft. The card game in question is Les Loups-garous de Thiercelieux, translated in English as The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow. Devised with Hervé Marly and published in 2001, the game follows inhabitants in a village, some of whom transform into werewolves after dark.
Each night, the predators pick a victim. Every day, the villagers debate who they suspect is a werewolf and choose someone to eliminate. The similarities between the two are difficult to ignore. The Traitors mirror the werewolves, while the Faithfuls take on the role of the villagers, with both groups tasked with identifying those secretly hiding amongst them.
Copyright Concerns
Des Pallières argued that the French version of the show, Les Traîtres, hosted by Éric Antoine, has plagiarised his game. "It’s an illegal copy of our game," he told The Times. "In my opinion, it’s a breach of copyright. The TV show has spoilt the game. It’s terrible that they’re still using our game. It’s hell for us."
Des Pallières said he would have taken legal action, but he was unable to after he and Marly sold the publishing rights to the Asmodée group, who decided against the lawsuit. Alexandre Alonso, head of Zygomatic, the Asmodee studio responsible for publishing the game, suggested that pursuing legal action would have been unlikely to succeed.
"Under French copyright law you can protect a brand, or a logo, but it’s much more difficult, or even impossible, with an idea. The Werewolves of Miller’s Hollow might have inspired TV shows, but that doesn’t mean you can sue," he told the publication. M6 has been contacted for comment.
