Tyler Perry Studios Changes Title of Political Comedy Amid Legal Dispute
Tyler Perry Studios has quietly renamed its political comedy series “She the People” following a legal battle over the show’s title. The decision comes amid ongoing litigation that accuses Tyler Perry and the series’ star, Terri J. Vaughn, of infringing on the trademark of a nonprofit organization with the same name.
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The lawsuit was filed earlier this year by Aimee Allison, founder of the nonprofit “She the People.” She claims that the Netflix series, which stars Vaughn as Antoinette Dunkerson, the first Black lieutenant governor of Mississippi, stole the name from her own trademarked work. Allison’s nonprofit focuses on empowering women of color in a new political era, while the Netflix series follows the story of a woman rising to power in the state government.
The trademark infringement case was filed in California on May 19, just days before the May 22 premiere of “She the People” on Netflix. On July 4, Netflix released the trailer for Season 1 Part 2 of the series, revealing the title change to “Miss Governor.” The second half of Season 1 is set to debut on August 14.
According to the lawsuit, Allison has used the “She the People” mark since 2018, promoting her work across various platforms. She launched the first national summit focused on women of color in politics in 2018 and held a presidential forum in 2019. The nonprofit continues to use the mark across media, philanthropy, and civic initiatives.
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In court documents, it was noted that Tyler Vision LLC, owned by Tyler Perry, attempted to trademark the phrase “She the People” for his television series in September 2024. However, the application was denied in April 2024 due to a likelihood of confusion with Allison’s existing trademarks.
The lawsuit also claims that Allison worked with Vaughn through her production company, Nina Holiday Entertainment, in 2020 on a documentary series titled “She the People.” According to the suit, Vaughn collaborated with Allison on developing themes, conducting interviews, and preparing pitch decks for funding. The lawsuit states that all intellectual property rights were intended to remain with Allison’s nonprofit.
Allison argues that the use of the title “She the People” by the Netflix series falsely suggests a connection between the two entities. The nonprofit’s mission is to empower women of color and build their political influence, using educational programs, media, and live events to achieve this goal.
The lawsuit highlights that the show’s title is identical to Allison’s trademark and that the content aligns closely with the nonprofit’s mission. It claims that the defendants’ actions were deliberate and willful, constituting a clear violation of intellectual property rights.
The suit demands a jury trial and seeks to stop the use of the title “She the People” on the Netflix series. It also requests that the promotion of the series under the original title be blocked and that Tyler Vision abandon its trademark application. Additionally, the plaintiff is seeking monetary damages, attorney fees, costs, and punitive damages.
Representatives for Netflix have not provided a comment on the matter. The legal dispute raises important questions about intellectual property rights and the potential for conflicts between creative works and established brands. As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts rule on the issue of trademark infringement in the entertainment industry.
