Celebrity Justice
4/20/2010 2:30 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Writer: 'Ugly Betty' Jacked My Idea

"Ugly Betty" just went off the air and now a writer/director is claiming the show's producers, including ABC and Touchstone, ripped off her idea -- this according to a federal lawsuit.


In the court documents, filed today in federal court in Los Angeles, Azita Zendel says she wrote a screenplay which became the movie "Controlled Chaos" -- and that several episodes of 'Betty' are similar to her movie. 

According to the docs, Zendel claims the producers of 'Betty' got their hands on her project because she submitted it to them for a possible distribution deal -- but instead they allegedly used it without compensating her.

In case you never saw (or even heard of) "Controlled Chaos" -- imdb.com says it's about an assistant who has to cover up a film director's scandalous lifestyle.

Zendel is suing for unspecified damages.


TMZ LIVE!

RECENT EPISODES
Friday's

TMZ Live: Britney Spears ... 15 Million Reasons She RULES 'X Factor'

TMZ Live: Britney Spears ... 15 Million Reasons She RULES 'X Factor'

Britney Spears might miss a lot more 'X Factor' auditions ... because she can! Simon Cowell gave Brit damn near free reign in order to sign the pop star to that $15 million deal -- but is it backfiring? We'll tell you what peeps on the set are saying.Plus, Chris Jericho's…

VIEW PAST EPISODES

Too Fab!

David Beckham Strips for Elle UK!
David Beckham Strips for Elle UK!
5/29/2012 6:56 AM PDT

David Beckham has been named Elle UK's first male cover star -- and it's pretty easy to see why!The…

READ MORE

PHOTOS

Too Fab!

Kristen Stewart Shows Sexy Side at "Cosmopolis" Premiere
Kristen Stewart Shows Sexy Side at "Cosmopolis" Premiere
5/25/2012 12:09 PM PDT

It may have been Robert Pattinson's movie, but all eyes were on Kristen Stewart at the premiere of…

READ MORE