SIMON COWELL SUED OVER NEW ABC TV SHOW

A lawsuit to be filed in Federal Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday claims AMERICAN IDOL star Simon Cowell and ABC Television Network conspired to steal the trademarked brand “Million Dollar Idea”, copy the entire premise of a show already airing in national syndication on over 125 television stations, and market that idea as their own.

The DRUDGE REPORT has learned, the federal case is being brought by original “Million Dollar Idea” creators/hosts Jean Golden and Todd Walker. It is a direct response to ABC’s July 13, 2005 announcement of a new show of the same name, “created” by Cowell and “packaged” by CAA.

“From stem to stern, each and every detail of Simon Cowell and ABC’s mock ‘Million Dollar Idea’ is a patent rip-off of Todd and Jean’s four-year labor of love,” said attorney Pierce O'Donnell.

ABC did not return calls for comment early Wednesday.

The lawsuit calls for immediate injunctive relief and unspecified damages.

“It is incredibly ironic that our show, the premise of which is to promote, protect and reward small-town American ingenuity, was itself the victim of corporate theft and greed,” said Jean Golden, co-creator of Million Dollar Idea. “What has happened to us is every inventor/entrepreneur’s worst nightmare: having your idea stolen. The arrogance of Simon Cowell and ABC is beyond comprehension. Can you imagine stealing an idea and not even bothering to change the name of it?”

“We are outraged that Simon Cowell, and ABC Network think that they are above the law,” said Todd Walker. “We were taken aback to see our brand so brazenly stolen by corporate giants.”

Developing...

Source Drudge report