Did Oprah's production company steal the idea for her new hit show Oprah's Big Give?
That's the accusation made by a Boston woman, whose lawsuit against Winfrey has just been dismissed in a Massachusetts court. The woman is appealing the decision.
The woman says that she came up with the idea for a show very similar to Oprah's Big Give called The Philanthropist. She sent the proposal to Harpo Productions (Oprah's company) in 2005, and they wrote her back asking for more details. When she sent more details, they told her that they weren't interested in the idea. Then, in 2006, Oprah announced on her show that she was going to give viewers money to help out others, which eventually led to Oprah's Big Give.
But that's not the only lawsuit that Oprah is facing these days. A woman in Illinois says that she was injured during a taping of Oprah's show in December 2006, when audience members were told they could have any seat they wanted before the show, which set off a stampede where the woman says she was hurt. The woman says she suffered severe injuries from the incident and wants $50,000.
I guess that's what happens when you have the possibility of getting a new car or chocolates or bath salts for free.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-22-2008 @ 3:04PM
Gordon Werner said...
greed greed greed.
Reply
3-22-2008 @ 3:25PM
eugene said...
yeah, the fabulously rich are entitled to rip ideas off of other people and use them to make themselves richer!
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3-22-2008 @ 3:41PM
Anita said...
I can't comment on the Big Give - could be Oprah took it, but then again she has had those annual Big Give episodes for her audience members & charity for the past decade - As for the audience member, I agree with GW -
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3-23-2008 @ 10:46AM
Jasmine said...
I think that $50,000 is actually a very small amount to be suing Oprah Winfrey for, and doesn't come across as being very greedy at all. If taking seats at her show is always a "free for all" like this, I'm surprised more people haven't been injured. It doesn't sound like a very good idea.
3-24-2008 @ 10:50PM
ALG said...
Ideas often collide in the, uh, ether place of thought.
http://alittlegem.blogspot.com
Cheers!
Reply
3-26-2008 @ 1:33AM
Noel said...
I remember sometime back Oprah was also called out about a design idea similar too "Trading Space" or "While You Were Out" I think all of us that use the internet are subjected to our thoughts and ideas being hitch hiked. Happens all the time! The silver lining Oprah can afford a firm of attorneys to represent her in court... and Dr. Phil can pick her jury if it goes that far... so she'll survive the drama! Take names and kick butt, she's a billionaire!!!
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4-11-2008 @ 4:05PM
Echo Meekins said...
Oprah is a world wide icon. Oprah is a person who has overcome so many obstacles in her life to include; her color, her weight, poverty, being taken advantage of by male family members, and more. Oprah has a determined spirit and is being Blessed by God every day. She is a unique woman who has influence all over the world. She is sincere and forthright, and for that I admire her. The only thing is that she was never Blessed with having a child of her own. She would have been a wonderful parent and would have raised a wonderful child. Many people will try to profit from Oprah and will lose. Oprah does not need someone else's idea (The Big Give) to make money, she has more than enough to last several lifetimes. I admire Oprah Winfred and may God continue to Bless this wonderful Soul!
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