● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 negative
Netflix Sued After Unencrypted Movie Drive Stolen From Office Desk
Key points
- An unencrypted drive with the movie "Fortitude" was stolen from Netflix's office.
- Netflix allegedly waited a week to notify the production company, Op-Fortitude.
- The lawsuit seeks $112.5 million in damages, plus punitive damages.
- Netflix claims the production company is responsible for the unencrypted drive.
Unencrypted Movie Drive Stolen
A hard drive containing the unreleased Nicolas Cage movie "Fortitude" was stolen from a desk at Netflix's offices. The drive was unencrypted, and the theft was part of a larger incident where multiple drives were taken. The movie, financed by Simon Afram for $45 million, was anticipated for a 2026 release.
Lawsuit Filed Against Netflix
Op-Fortitude, the production company, and financier Simon Afram have filed a lawsuit against Netflix. They allege that Netflix waited a week to inform them of the theft and failed to take basic security precautions. The lawsuit claims Netflix implicitly breached a contract to delete screener files and return the drive promptly after viewing.
Damages Sought and Netflix's Defense
The plaintiffs are seeking revenues of at least 2.5 times the production budget, totaling $112.5 million, along with other damages including punitive damages. Netflix, in response, denies liability, stating that the production company's failure to encrypt the drive is the reason the content was accessible. Netflix also claims the lawsuit is an attempt to extort money, citing a prior demand letter for $165 million.
Impact and Current Status
Netflix confirmed that only the "Fortitude" drive contained content, and it is not the sole copy of the movie. As of now, there is no evidence that the movie has been leaked online. The incident highlights potential security vulnerabilities in handling sensitive pre-release content within production and distribution workflows.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Netflix is being sued by Op-Fortitude and financier Simon Afram after an unencrypted hard drive containing the unreleased movie "Fortitude" was stolen from a Netflix office desk. The lawsuit alleges Netflix failed to implement basic security measures and delayed informing the production company about the theft, potentially leading to a leak and financial losses.