It's a true David vs. Goliath tale.

A small Vermont publisher is suing Netflix, accusing the $15 billion entertainment behemoth of infringing on its trademark with the interactive science fiction film, "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch."

"We're obviously small and independent, and they're obviously large, that's the construct we're working with here," said Melissa Bounty, Chooseco Associate Publisher.

Chooseco LLC publishes a series of interactive books for young adults in which the reader makes choices that affect the plot and outcome of the book. The company has a federally registered trademark for the words, "Choose Your Own Adventure," used in connection with its books.

The movie "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" opens with a scene in which the main character refers to a book as a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, according to the lawsuit. Chooseco accuses Netflix of using its trademarked phrase without a license or authorization.

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Chooseco further claims that the dark nature of the Black Mirror film, featuring depictions of "demonic presence, violent fighting, drug use, murder, mutilation of a corpse, decapitation and other upsetting imagery," has tarnished Chooseco's "famous trademark" by confusing viewers who think Chooseco is associated somehow with the film.

"Chooseco has already suffered reputational harm due to viewers' negative associations with Bandersnatch," the lawsuit states.

Netflix declined to comment for this story.

Suing for $25 million or Netflix's profits

Chooseco asks for an accounting of Netflix's profits, and damages of at least $25 million or Netflix's profits, whichever is greater, as well as attorneys' fees and costs.

Chooseco Co-founder and Publisher Shannon Gilligan said in a statement the "misappropriation" of the company's trademark by Netflix present an "extreme challenge" for Chooseco where "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" is concerned.

"We have received an unprecedented amount of outreach from people who believed we were associated with the creation of this film, including parents who were concerned that we had aligned the ["Choose Your Own Adventure"] brand they knew and loved with content that surprised and offended them," Gilligan said.

Gilligan said she would have preferred not to resort to litigation, but given the damage Chooseco will suffer as a result of Netflix's actions, "we've been left with no other option."

The history of Chooseco

R.A. Montgomery, first launched the book series in the 1970s, selling the idea to New York publisher Bantam Books. "Choose Your Own Adventure" became one of the most successful children's book series of all time, selling 250 million books in 38 languages between 1978 and 1998, when the series ceased publication.

In 2003, Gilligan and her husband, R.A. Montgomery, formed Chooseco to re-release several classic titles from the original series, aswell as develop new books and license the brand into new interactive media. In its second iteration, the company has sold 15 million books worldwide, according to Associate Publisher Melissa Bounty, including 620,000 books last year.

Bounty said Chooseco also has a film option with 21st Century Fox that has "been in the works for a while." She said the deal includes the development of supporting technology that will allow for theatrical audience interaction.

Chooseco has seven full-time employees in Waitsfield and also employs freelance writers for its book series.

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.