Is Germany ripping off The Office?

The BBC has launched an investigation over a German comedy show that bears uncanny similarities to The Office.

Stromberg is set in a dreary office, headed by an embarrassing self-obsessed goatee-wearing fool, whose colleagues are all under the spectre of redundancy because of a forthcoming merger.

There’s even a toadying sociopath who is constantly being teased by a relatively sane colleague, who flirts with a female workmate.

All the scenes are underplayed, in a realistic style with no laughter track and cutaway shots to bored staff killing time at their desks. Event the titles and plaintive theme tune seem familiar.

The BBC is now investigating whether it has a case for breach of copyright against German broadcaster ProSieben, which started airing the show a fortnight ago.

The channel vigorously denies any suggestion of plagiarism for the show, which attacts audiences of around two million.

Stromberg is named after the crass, overly-chummy manager of an insurance firm office dealing with claims for surnames beginning with letters N to Z.

He addresses the camera directly, nervously fiddling with his tie as he misguidedly boasts about the happy atmosphere he has created.

One plotline saw Stromberg investigate who drew an offensive graffiti on a toilet, and this week’s episode featured a fire drill at the office, both echoing storylines Ricky Geravis has used for The Office

A BBC spokesman said: “We are aware of this programme and are currently investigating the matter.”

ProSieben claimed the shows were different, with Stromberg having his roots in an earlier German comedy called Anke.

She told Scotland on Sunday: “I’m sure that people will see some of The Office in it, but the two are very different programmes. The British humour in The Office is very sarcastic and not really right for our audiences. Our programme is a German comedy, with German humour, and based on German culture."

International TV sales is a lucrative market, earning the BBC tens of millions of pounds a year, and while copyright on ideas can be difficult to establish, the execution of those ideas is protected by intellectual rights.

Clips – and an entire episode – of Stromberg can be seen at the Prosieben website.

Published: 24 Oct 2004