Seth MacFarlane Faces Lawsuit for 'Ted'

"Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane is certainly used to controversy... but of this kind?

The comedy writer and actor is currently facing a lawsuit for his 2012 hit "Ted."

The federal lawsuit alleges that MacFarlane stole the concept from a web series entitled "Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear."

Bengal Mangle Productions has brought forth the suit. They claim "Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear" is a spin-off web series stemming from "Acting School Academy," which debuted on YouTube, Facebook, FunnyorDie, etc., in 2009 - well before "Ted" hit theaters.

"Charlie" centers on a living teddy bear with a "penchant for drinking, smoking, prostitutes, and is a generally vulgar yet humorous character."

It went on to explain:

"Each episode of 'Charlie the Abusive Teddy Bear' features Charlie's original character traits, including that Charlie has all human friends, hates vegetables, has anger-management problems, is a washed-up child star, has a penchant for drinking alcohol, drugs, and prostitutes, and is often violent, both physically and verbally."

Yeah, that does sound "strikingly familiar," doesn't it? But will the court validate the claim of copyright infringement?

Named as defendants are Seth MacFarlane, production company Fuzzy Door Productions, distributor Media Rights Capital II, MRC II Distribution, and Thunder Buddies. Also named are Universal Pictures, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, and Universal City Studios.

Bengal is seeking actual, compensatory, and statuatory damages, disgorgement of profits, costs, and an injunction. A cut of "Ted" profits (to the tune of $500 million) would certainly be a sweet deal.

Will this injure the "Ted" follow-up in the works, reuniting the fuzzy foul-mouthed bear with his best friend (Mark Wahlberg)?