Netflix is being sued for at least $105 million after an unencrypted master copy of the unreleased Nicolas Cage film Fortitude was stolen from its Los Angeles office. The filmmakers say the theft has undermined the sale of the World War II spy thriller, as prospective distributors may fear piracy or unauthorised circulation. Netflix disputes that it bears responsibility for a film delivered without standard security protections.

Netflix had requested a working cut after expressing interest in buying the film, and a producer delivered the drive on 15 June with instructions to delete the files after screening it. Netflix told the filmmakers ten days later that several drives had been stolen; it says the other drives were empty and that it is monitoring piracy sites. The lawsuit also alleges Netflix did not adequately involve police, while Netflix says the filmmakers’ earlier $165 million demand was an attempt to extort money.