Netflix Serial Killer Documentary Infringed Interview, Suit Says

A Netflix Inc. documentary miniseries used a YouTuber’s interview with an accused serial killer without permission, a copyright suit said.

The documentary “Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer” used 49 seconds of Antoine Amira’s conversation with accused murderer Rex Heuermann, Amira’s complaint filed Tuesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said. Netflix and producers Archer Gray Productions LLC and Story Syndicate KKC failed to acquire a license to use the only known interview footage of Heuermann—unlike several other outlets, the suit said.

The case invokes questions about the bounds of fair use in documentaries. Plaintiffs in such cases allege documentary-makers must pay to use materials created by others, but filmmakers often argue the small amounts of the originals used and differing purposes of their use put them under the umbrella of fair use.

The Bronx-based Arima pcosted the interview on his YouTube Channel “Bonjour Reality,” part of his series “L’Interview by Antoine.” He said he’s been a guest on CBS New York, Dateline, and other programs. He conducted an interview with Heuermann about his work as an architect on Feb. 6, 2022, before Heuermann was arrested in connection with a series of murders near Gilgo, New York, in July 2023.

After the Long Island resident’s arrest, there was ample media interest in the interview about Heuermann’s professional and personal life, Amira said. He said ABC, CBS, NBC, NewsNation, and other outlets secured licenses to use his work.

Netflix released “Gone Girls” on March 31, and Episode 3 of the miniseries featured exact copies of three clips of 23, 18, and 8 seconds cut from Amira’s interview. Amira said he called Story Syndicate and sent Netflix an invoice on April 10, but received no response.

Netflix, Story Syndicate, and Archer Gray Productions didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP represents Amira.

The case is Amira v. Netflix Inc., S.D.N.Y., No. 1:25-cv-06836, complaint filed 8/19/25.