Dimma Davidoff, interviewed by Vulture in summer 2025 about the American version of 'The Traitors', asserts that the show resembles the party game 'Mafia', which he created and copyrighted. He has not received money or recognition from the Dutch companies that created the show or from All3media, which sold the concept to 40 countries. Davidoff invented 'Mafia' while studying psychology at a university in Moscow in the mid-1980s, creating it as an exercise for high school students he was teaching.
The game spread rapidly, and when he moved to the USA in 1991, he encountered other emigrated Russians who suggested playing 'Mafia' within a week. All3media states that the Dutch original of 'The Traitors', 'De Verraders', is their own format, a unique creation developed by IDTV and RTL4. It remains unknown whether legal action has been or will be taken by Davidoff against All3media or the Dutch producers, the exact financial impact on him from the alleged infringement, and how many countries have licensed the format and the total revenue generated.
The way they describe the rules comes directly from my copyrighted rules. They have just changed the word 'Mafia' to 'Traitors'. I think they have acted dishonestly.
Yes and no. If more people respected copyright and game designers, I would live a little better, but I am happy if the players appreciate it.
The Dutch original of 'The Traitors', 'De Verraders' is our own format, a unique creation developed by (production company) IDTV and (TV channel) RTL4.