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Some of the best ideas in television are stolen… allegedly. Which network shows were ripped-off? Who stole another show’s idea? Many networks have found themselves in legal trouble after writers or other networks accused them of copyright infringement, slander, unfair business practices, sought injunctions, damages, or all of the above.
The list below of the TV shows sued for being rip-offs describes the legal battles over the rights to some of the best television shows. Many writers and producers claim they had meetings and were subsequently ignored or rejected, only to see their idea on the small screen years later - like producer Anthony Spinner, who said ABC’s hit show “Lost” was all too similar to a show he pitched way back in 1977.
CBS isn’t shy about getting involved in television legal battles. In 2002, they sued ABC for stealing the idea for “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here” from CBS mega-hit “Survivor.” Though the judge threw out the case, it didn’t stop CBS from suing ABC again, ten years later. In 2012, CBS claimed that ABC’s “The Glass House” blatantly ripped off their long-running “Big Brother” reality competition series. In the end, CBS and ABC settled.
But it isn’t just networks and television shows getting embroiled in legal trouble. Also take a look at the list of frivolous lawsuits against celebrities and the dumbest lawsuits in recent history.
Check below to see if your favorite show or its network has been sued and just what exactly they were accused of.
http://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-sued-for-being-rip-offs/amylindorff,
Lost
Producer Anthony Spinner sued ABC in 2009, claiming the network used his ideas and storyline for their hit series "Lost." Spinner claimed that in 1977 he presented the network a pilot entitled "L.O.S.T." about a U.S. Olympic team whose plane crashes in the Himalayas. He presented the 'plane crashes on deserted island' idea again in 1991 and in 1994.
Spinner sought damages and a cut of the "Lost" royalties and profits. Ultimately, a California appeals court rejected the case in 2013.
(Source)
The League
Writers Joseph Balsamo and Peter Ciancarelli sued FX Network and "The League" co-creator/executive producer in 2012 for copyright infringement, claiming the network ripped off the comedy from their idea "The Commissioner."
Balsamo and Ciancarelli sought unspecified damages based on profits derived from the infringement as well as legal fees, interest, and costs. They also asked that FX be ordered to destroy any original materials infringing on any "The Commissioner" copyright.
(Source)
Must Be the Music
In 2014, Waif Productions co-founders Brian Wade and Geraldine Perry filed a format infringement claim against British network Sky, claiming the format of reality competition show "Must Be the Music" was their idea.
Wade and Perry say they had the idea for a talent show featuring original compositions, with songwriter judges and the ability for viewers and fans to download the songs after the show - much like "Must Be the Music."
(Source)
The Voice
In 2013, Irish citizen Michael Roy Barry sued production companies Talpa Media Group, The Entertainment Group and "The Voice of Holland" judges Marco Borsato and Roel Van Velsen. Barry claimed that in 2008 he created the concept for a show titled “Voice of America," a singing talent show, where the contestants were judged solely on their voices.
Van Velsen has also claimed to have conceived of the idea for "The Voice" franchise.
Barry claims to have registered the idea with both the Writers Guild of America West and the U.S. Copyright Office and is seeking unspecified damages.
(Source)
STORIbook Weddings
Producers Charles W. Malcolm, Denny O’Neil Jr., and Jake P. Hall sued Tori Spelling and Oxygen Network in 2013 claiming Spelling’s reality show "sTORIbook Weddings" was ripped off from their idea. They claim that they registered their own wedding planning show starring Spelling and husband Dean McDermott with the Writers Guild of America in 2007 and met with Oxygen about the idea in 2009.
The $60 million suit charges breach of implied in fact contract, breach of fiduciary duty, slander of title, false advertising, unfair business practices, a declaration of their rights and legal fees, and more.
(Source)
New Girl
Writers Stephanie Counts and Shari Gold sued 21st Century Fox, "New Girl" executive producer Peter Chernin, creator Elizabeth Meriwether, director Jake Kasdan, and agency WME in 2014, claiming the Fox show and their 2006 pilot "Square One" contain similarities “so numerous and specific that independent creation was obviously impossible.”
"Square One" was based on Counts’s personal experience, after she moved in with three bachelors following her divorce. They are seeking a jury trial, damages, court costs and an injunction to halt production and distribution of "New Girl."
(Source)
Q'Viva! The Chosen
In 2013, John Jacobs sued Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez for $25 million in damages, claiming the Latin power couple stole his idea for "Miami Beach: The Game," a show following two famous Latino celebrities as they travel, searching for the next big superstar.
Jacobs says he contacted Marc Anthony Productions and Lopez's Nuyorican Productions about the idea and they initially expressed interest, but ultimately ignored him. In 2012, he saw "Q'Viva! The Chosen," a show following Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and director/choreographer Jamie King as they travel throughout Latin America to discover and recruit entertainers for their Latin Las Vegas show.
(Source)
Elementary
In 2012, "Sherlock" producer Sue Vertue and production company Hartswood Films claimed the CBS series "Elementary" was a rip-off of the BBC hit series, both based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
They claimed that although Doyle's characters are in the public domain, if the unusual elements of the BBC series (modern settings, characters, clothes, etc.) were reproduced in "Elementary," they would have the basis of a copyright claim.
Lending more weight to the BBC's claim, CBS had previously approached BBC about a remake of "Sherlock" before going ahead with "Elementary."
(Source)
Ray Donovan
Screenwriter Brian Larsen sued cable network Showtime in 2014, claiming they stole his idea for their drama series "Ray Donovan." Larsen said he met with Showtime in 2010, but they passed on his idea for "The Swissman."
Larsen believes the concept for "The Swissman," (a San Francisco-based "fixer" discreetly handles the problems of many high-profile clients and has family issues) is suspiciously similar to the concept of "Ray Donovan" (a "fixer" for a powerful law firm solves problems for the rich and famous of Los Angeles and has daddy issues).
Larsen wants the show stopped via an injunction and is seeking unspecified damages of more than $25,000.
(Source)
The Glass House
In 2012, CBS sued ABC, claiming ABC's reality competition show "The Glass House" was a rip-off of their long-running series "Big Brother." Both shows feature contestants living together in a house rigged with cameras, competing to avoid eviction, with the final houseguest earning a six-figure cash prize.
CBS claimed "The Glass House" was being produced by "Big Brother" veterans who might reveal private information about the inner workings of the show and alleged causes of action for copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty, among others.
CBS settled in 2013 and received financial compensation.
(Source)
Clik here to view.
Some of the best ideas in television are stolen… allegedly. Which network shows were ripped-off? Who stole another show’s idea? Many networks have found themselves in legal trouble after writers or other networks accused them of copyright infringement, slander, unfair business practices, sought injunctions, damages, or all of the above.
The list below of the TV shows sued for being rip-offs describes the legal battles over the rights to some of the best television shows. Many writers and producers claim they had meetings and were subsequently ignored or rejected, only to see their idea on the small screen years later - like producer Anthony Spinner, who said ABC’s hit show “Lost” was all too similar to a show he pitched way back in 1977.
CBS isn’t shy about getting involved in television legal battles. In 2002, they sued ABC for stealing the idea for “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here” from CBS mega-hit “Survivor.” Though the judge threw out the case, it didn’t stop CBS from suing ABC again, ten years later. In 2012, CBS claimed that ABC’s “The Glass House” blatantly ripped off their long-running “Big Brother” reality competition series. In the end, CBS and ABC settled.
But it isn’t just networks and television shows getting embroiled in legal trouble. Also take a look at the list of frivolous lawsuits against celebrities and the dumbest lawsuits in recent history.
Check below to see if your favorite show or its network has been sued and just what exactly they were accused of.
http://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-sued-for-being-rip-offs/amylindorff,
Lost
Producer Anthony Spinner sued ABC in 2009, claiming the network used his ideas and storyline for their hit series "Lost." Spinner claimed that in 1977 he presented the network a pilot entitled "L.O.S.T." about a U.S. Olympic team whose plane crashes in the Himalayas. He presented the 'plane crashes on deserted island' idea again in 1991 and in 1994.
Spinner sought damages and a cut of the "Lost" royalties and profits. Ultimately, a California appeals court rejected the case in 2013.
(Source)
The League
Writers Joseph Balsamo and Peter Ciancarelli sued FX Network and "The League" co-creator/executive producer in 2012 for copyright infringement, claiming the network ripped off the comedy from their idea "The Commissioner."
Balsamo and Ciancarelli sought unspecified damages based on profits derived from the infringement as well as legal fees, interest, and costs. They also asked that FX be ordered to destroy any original materials infringing on any "The Commissioner" copyright.
(Source)
Must Be the Music
In 2014, Waif Productions co-founders Brian Wade and Geraldine Perry filed a format infringement claim against British network Sky, claiming the format of reality competition show "Must Be the Music" was their idea.
Wade and Perry say they had the idea for a talent show featuring original compositions, with songwriter judges and the ability for viewers and fans to download the songs after the show - much like "Must Be the Music."
(Source)
The Voice
In 2013, Irish citizen Michael Roy Barry sued production companies Talpa Media Group, The Entertainment Group and "The Voice of Holland" judges Marco Borsato and Roel Van Velsen. Barry claimed that in 2008 he created the concept for a show titled “Voice of America," a singing talent show, where the contestants were judged solely on their voices.
Van Velsen has also claimed to have conceived of the idea for "The Voice" franchise.
Barry claims to have registered the idea with both the Writers Guild of America West and the U.S. Copyright Office and is seeking unspecified damages.
(Source)
STORIbook Weddings
Producers Charles W. Malcolm, Denny O’Neil Jr., and Jake P. Hall sued Tori Spelling and Oxygen Network in 2013 claiming Spelling’s reality show "sTORIbook Weddings" was ripped off from their idea. They claim that they registered their own wedding planning show starring Spelling and husband Dean McDermott with the Writers Guild of America in 2007 and met with Oxygen about the idea in 2009.
The $60 million suit charges breach of implied in fact contract, breach of fiduciary duty, slander of title, false advertising, unfair business practices, a declaration of their rights and legal fees, and more.
(Source)
New Girl
Writers Stephanie Counts and Shari Gold sued 21st Century Fox, "New Girl" executive producer Peter Chernin, creator Elizabeth Meriwether, director Jake Kasdan, and agency WME in 2014, claiming the Fox show and their 2006 pilot "Square One" contain similarities “so numerous and specific that independent creation was obviously impossible.”
"Square One" was based on Counts’s personal experience, after she moved in with three bachelors following her divorce. They are seeking a jury trial, damages, court costs and an injunction to halt production and distribution of "New Girl."
(Source)
Q'Viva! The Chosen
In 2013, John Jacobs sued Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez for $25 million in damages, claiming the Latin power couple stole his idea for "Miami Beach: The Game," a show following two famous Latino celebrities as they travel, searching for the next big superstar.
Jacobs says he contacted Marc Anthony Productions and Lopez's Nuyorican Productions about the idea and they initially expressed interest, but ultimately ignored him. In 2012, he saw "Q'Viva! The Chosen," a show following Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and director/choreographer Jamie King as they travel throughout Latin America to discover and recruit entertainers for their Latin Las Vegas show.
(Source)
Elementary
In 2012, "Sherlock" producer Sue Vertue and production company Hartswood Films claimed the CBS series "Elementary" was a rip-off of the BBC hit series, both based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
They claimed that although Doyle's characters are in the public domain, if the unusual elements of the BBC series (modern settings, characters, clothes, etc.) were reproduced in "Elementary," they would have the basis of a copyright claim.
Lending more weight to the BBC's claim, CBS had previously approached BBC about a remake of "Sherlock" before going ahead with "Elementary."
(Source)
Ray Donovan
Screenwriter Brian Larsen sued cable network Showtime in 2014, claiming they stole his idea for their drama series "Ray Donovan." Larsen said he met with Showtime in 2010, but they passed on his idea for "The Swissman."
Larsen believes the concept for "The Swissman," (a San Francisco-based "fixer" discreetly handles the problems of many high-profile clients and has family issues) is suspiciously similar to the concept of "Ray Donovan" (a "fixer" for a powerful law firm solves problems for the rich and famous of Los Angeles and has daddy issues).
Larsen wants the show stopped via an injunction and is seeking unspecified damages of more than $25,000.
(Source)
The Glass House
In 2012, CBS sued ABC, claiming ABC's reality competition show "The Glass House" was a rip-off of their long-running series "Big Brother." Both shows feature contestants living together in a house rigged with cameras, competing to avoid eviction, with the final houseguest earning a six-figure cash prize.
CBS claimed "The Glass House" was being produced by "Big Brother" veterans who might reveal private information about the inner workings of the show and alleged causes of action for copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty, among others.
CBS settled in 2013 and received financial compensation.
(Source)