TV Show "Lost" Stolen From Writer

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TV Show "Lost" Stolen From Writer

July 15. 2009

Lost

In what should be an open and shut case, provided the judge doesn't take a bribe, as some others have done, who were later indicted and incarcerated for doing so, a very credible looking copyright infringement case has appeared on the court dockets, regarding the television show "Lost."

32 years ago, Anthony Spinner, the producer for the hit show "Baretta" and "Babes in Toyland" wrote a 121 page script, for which he was paid $30,000.

Under the agreement, if the script was used at a later date by a studio, he was to be given writer's credit and royalties, which is standard. 32 years later, a Hollywood miscreant saw a copy of the script, used it, took writer's credit and payment for it, launching it as the show the public knows as "Lost." The current show "Lost" is a duplication of the preexisting script from 1977. The premise and characters are the same.

I always state, you know what you write, whether it be a letter to a friend, a reminder note or on another level, a script. Therefore, these infringers taking credit for other people's preexisting copyrights are criminals.

They know they did not write these items they take credit and payment for, in violation of the law, which constitutes willful copyright infringement, fraud, deceptive trade practices and money laundering, which is a serious crime.

Man Claims He Got 'Lost' First

Posted Jul 13th 2009 5:20PM by TMZ Staff

There may be one human being on Earth who understands the TV show "Lost" -- a guy who claims he created the show 32 years ago.

Anthony Spinner -- a producer on "Baretta" and "Babes in Toyland" -- says back in 1977 he was paid $30,000 to write a TV pilot, which eventually became a 121-page script called "Lost."

Spinner is now suing ABC and Touchstone Television, claiming the network passed on the show in '77, '91 and '94 ... then suddenly created an exact replica with Touchstone in 2004.

Spinner lists a ton of similarities in his suit -- which was filed on July 10 -- notably an "airplane headed to Los Angeles [that] crashes into a tropical jungle-like environment."

Spinner also alleges the new "Lost" characters -- including Jack, Locke, Sayid, Kate and Sawyer -- are all rip-offs ... down to their occupations and dark pasts.

The comparisons go on and on. Spinner is suing for damages and a cut of royalties, profits and a bunch of other stuff. Spinner tried to sue a few years ago, but it was dismissed for procedural reasons.

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