Appeals court sides with NBC Universal in 'Ghost Hunters' idea theft case

[The Straight Story]

Appeals court sides with NBC Universal in 'Ghost Hunters' idea theft case

Ghost_hunters_31 EXCLUSIVE: NBC Universal has won an important appellate court victory over two individuals who claimed to have come up with the concept for the hit Syfy reality show "Ghost Hunters."

In 2006, Larry Montz, a parapsychologist, and Daena Smoller, a publicist, filed a lawsuit against Syfy owner NBC Universal, producer Pilgrim Films & Television, and others claiming they conceived the idea of a show about a team of paranormal investigators who go into haunted locations. The two claimed to have presented screenplays, videos and other materials to NBCU execs between 1996 and 2003.

The duo pursued an interesting legal theory all the way to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeal decision. If successful, Montz and Smoller could have forged a path for many others who try to work around the constraints of copyright law and pursue allegations of idea theft against studios.

Over the years, it's almost paranormal how often Hollywood studios have been accused of ripping off ideas. These cases are rarely successful because copyright law only protects the expression of ideas —not the ideas themselves. It's tough to prove breach of contract or breach of an implied contract, and these state law claims are often preempted by federal copyright law.

http://thresq.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/06/appeals-court-nbc-universal-ghost-hunters.html

[Bitwit1234]

1. I know it is just another one of those reality "type" shows

but I like this show, along with GHI. I also like the one about "Ghost Adventures". I think it is on AandE. Some I don't care for but those two, to me, are more entertaining.