Celebrity Justice
Howard Stern's Cousin to "Bee Movie" -- Buzz Off!

Howard Stern's cousin Richie made a bee-line to sue the makers of the new "Bee Movie," claiming they ripped off his company's popular catchphrase used to sell their honey-based skin care products. Swat that away!
Breaking News
TMZ has obtained the stinging lawsuit, in which BeeCeuticals of Fort Lauderdale is buzzing mad at Dreamworks and Paramount, saying the "Give Bees a Chance" slogan used in marketing the film was their idea. The suit, filed in federal court by Stern's cousin, bee-lister Richie Gerber, alleges the slogan has been used more than 400 times on Stern's radio show, and was usurped by Jerry Seinfeld's new animated bee flick.

The suit also claims that movie companies approached BeeCeuticals about a promotional offer, but the deal was never struck. "Bee Movie" flies into theaters today.

Dreamworks did not return our call for comment.



Filed under: Celebrity Justice

Reader Comments

(Page 3 of 3)Previous 15 Comments

31. i liked the the seinfeld show but if i have to choose between someone who made me laugh for a half an hour every week for 9 years and a guy whos made me laugh for 5 hours a day all week long for 20 years I CHOOSE HOWARD STERN, GO GET RUN OVER BY A PORSHE JERRY

Posted at 9:35PM on Nov 2nd 2007 by NYCriminal

32. Never thought Jerry or his show was funny.

Posted at 10:14PM on Nov 2nd 2007 by Paula

33. Thievery seems to run in this family! Jerry slammed the lady who came out with the first cookbook on Letterman as a crazy person, his wifes came out after. I used to think he was funny and creative, now, not so much.

Posted at 10:20PM on Nov 2nd 2007 by ThinkyBlinky

34. What a Public Relations Nightmare the Seinfelds have pulled these last few weeks.

Who are their "handlers"? Or do they think of this crap themselves, since their so rich.

The Oprah faux pas, the Letterman embarssment, the Bee Stern rip off, the Me first overkill with the Bee Movie commercials.

These two need to go away as fast as I hope that new movie goes away.

The man has lost it. Only people who will follow him going forward will be the uninformed. A true selfish has been.

Posted at 12:25AM on Nov 3rd 2007 by Make them go away

35.
The "Wacko" Jerry was referring to is also works for FOOD and WINE magazine, and has

an impressive writing about food career , this wasn't some PTA MOM who got an

inspiration. No. She is an honest to god FooDIE . She pitched her book with SIMON ANd

Schuster , they turned it down, then they go and publish JERRY'S wife's book instead.

Why do comedians who use to make us laugh our ass es off don't when they get old ?

Posted at 1:39AM on Nov 3rd 2007 by Queen BEE

36. Jeez, now even his FAMILY claims to have invented everything?

Fake teeth. Poodle hair.

Posted at 6:04PM on Nov 5th 2007 by Z100JingleBall

37. It figures that Paramount pictures would steal anouthers trade mark or idea's. They have been accused in the past for doing just that, copying almost word for word a movie that Jack Black had written.
I hope BeeCuticals beats Paramount on this one.

Posted at 6:51PM on Nov 5th 2007 by John OConnell

38. Jerry your a "WACKO" and so is your wife.
Go copy someone else

Posted at 8:28PM on Nov 5th 2007 by jerry sucks

39. I think Seinfeld should get Jackie the lawyer to represent him. That way cousin richie can get a lifetime supply of honey. Cramer got coffee. Something for nothing will never stop.

Posted at 7:59PM on Nov 6th 2007 by The Big

40. Steven Spielberg and Jerry Seinfeld i also suspected of stealing - a swedish movie. It feels like a dark cinderella storie, says the creator Henrik Wallgren. Henrik Wallgren and Per Umaerus came up with the idea to do a animated movie about bees and theirs contact with humans, and Dreamworks showed an interest of the idea.

They claim that they showed a script and a pilot of their movie Beebylon to Dreamworks in 2002, who turned it down saying it was to childish for the american audience. A year later they and Jerry Seinfeld announce that they were making their own fairly similar movie. In an interview in the swedish tv Seinfeld completely dismisses the similarities between the movies:

"I’m trying not to laugh too hard because I find it very funny…. You know anybody who would make something about bees would use the look of the bee, with the stripes, so, yes, there is that similarity."

For some reason the reporter didn’t ask him about the fact that Dreamworks were shown Beebylon just a year before starting the promotion of Bee Movie. A coincidence? Now Wallgren and his collegues are planning a lawsuit against Dreamworks.

Posted at 7:23PM on Jan 26th 2008 by Borage

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