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Mark Burnett Sued -- You're No Rock Star

Posted Mar 7th 2007 7:32PM by TMZ Staff

Mark Burnett, the man behind the popular reality show "Rock Star," is being sued INXS of $2 million, by a woman who claims he was part of an alleged conspiracy to steal her idea for the CBS reality show.
Mark Burnett Sued
In the lawsuit obtained by TMZ, a writer/producer named Sharlene Sullivan claims that in 2002, she registered a show synopsis called "Rock Star" with the Writers Guild of America, in which "lead vocalists for rock bands would compete and would be judged by well known musicians/rock stars."

In the lawsuit, Sullivan claims she shared the idea with several industry people connected with both Mark Burnett and the rock band INXS. After receiving initial interest from those parties, Sullivan claims she was told to "abandon the project" and "write an unrelated treatment regarding transvestites."

Soon after, the suit claims, Mark Burnett claimed he created a reality show called "RockStar: INXS." Sullivan says Burnett knew that it had already been created. Now she wants Burnett, along with CBS, to fork over more than $2 million in damages.

Calls to Burnett's reps were not immediately returned.

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1. Paris has herpes?

Posted at 8:17PM on Mar 7th 2007 by Farrah

2. among other things..

Posted at 8:38PM on Mar 7th 2007 by dizzydazzy

3. Oh come on Farrah you know that nasty racist bitch has herpes!

Posted at 9:16PM on Mar 7th 2007 by Whatever

4. what do all these previous comments have to do with MARK??? Good luck dude! Looks like you better go ahead and write out that check!

Posted at 9:28PM on Mar 7th 2007 by sadie

5. Anyone know where to find the Rockstar exhibits?

Posted at 10:44PM on Mar 7th 2007 by Victoria

6. Those Bastards! Theiving Industry Backstabbers ... they're all the same, just crap on the little guy!

Posted at 10:54PM on Mar 7th 2007 by Robin Givens

7. The woman Sharlene Sullivan,sounds pretty convincingOnly time will tell.I'm sure this will be played out in the courts.Burnett's image will be damaged temporarily if he is found guilty of these charges.People will forget about this Not like this hasn't happened before,or will happen again,but thats how the World is

Posted at 11:28PM on Mar 7th 2007 by ja

8. Uhhhhh........That's why the founding fathers incorporated the copyright clause into the United States Constitution. Ya got an idea....get a copyright. Ya snooze, ya lose. In this case (and all other similar fact patterns) the copyright would be illusive since she would have had no actual show in the can, but drafting a detailed synopsis/treatment specifically outlining the framework the proposed show would follow (in this case she had a very specific concept - using the well known rock band INXS) would be available as prima facie evidence that the idea originated with her and would have potentially barred CBS from copyrighting their broadcasts and hence the ability to go ahead with the show without the risk of being forced to disgorge all profits garnered from those broadcasts in the future. Whenever you are about to make the initial pitch of an idea (or discuss it with anyone for that matter), secure a copyright from the Feds first. It can be done online now at www.copyright.gov. Who would have ever guessed that would be the web site???

As far as screwing the little man? Copyrights are available for about $75 I believe. If you are truly convinced that the idea is gold, secure the services of an intellectual property attorney who will throughly work the (c) for you, and it really isn't that expensive at base level. Witness the profit she has lost here for failing to secure the right if she fails to get a settlement. These cases are hard to win since you have little evidence that the idea was yours and no legitimate concrete right to the idea (i.e. a copyright). Put it to paper and get that copyright folks. If you don't you deserve to get what you have put into it....nothing!

Posted at 11:40PM on Mar 7th 2007 by SJ

9. WOW. you guys have nothing better to cover than this. I know I am a bored housewife but PLEASE! give me something to dangle from. - I need another glass of vodka...

Posted at 11:46PM on Mar 7th 2007 by stella hernandez

10. Oh I left out the main point to my last post....I'm sure that the high priced legal department at CBS secured their copyright for the idea within a few hours once CBS executive producers green lighted the project....so legally at this point, the idea belongs to them since, there were no proceeding copyrights belonging to others for the idea.

Posted at 11:46PM on Mar 7th 2007 by SJ

11. #10 says she needs a glass of vodka.....now you're thinking like a lawyer!

Posted at 11:48PM on Mar 7th 2007 by SJ

12. PLEASE. I beg of you. use me as an offering for chistsakes. IS THIS THE BEST YOU COULD COME UP WITH TODAY????? I guess it's a good thing - I AM SO BORED of your site that i'd rather take a warm bath and slit my wrists than log on to TMZ for more cancorous drivel lke this - WHO CARES?!??!?!.

YAWN - SO BOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRIIIIINGGGGGG. need another glass of SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Posted at 11:54PM on Mar 7th 2007 by stella hernandez

13. Ok #13 who let you out of the mental ward. FREAK! BTW I beg of YOU please take your own advice and shut the heck up. Turd sucker.

Posted at 12:16AM on Mar 8th 2007 by Get a life prick

14. To SJ - You sound like you have a law degree . . . NOT. Anything you produce is automatically your property, ie copyrighted. The key is the proof. By registering her idea and synopsis with the Writers Guild, she automatically has copyrights with proof. The question for the courts is whether the produced Rockstar is close enough to her idea to be infringement and what damages would be.

Posted at 3:47AM on Mar 8th 2007 by GGMillar

15. Is this thing about Tara and Stedman true? I don't believe it

Posted at 5:25AM on Mar 8th 2007 by brian

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