Multiple People Demanding Credit For Hannah Montana

from the there-are-only-so-many-stories-in-the-world dept

Tue, Feb 3rd 2009 1:09pm — Mike Masnick

You hear it all the time with almost any successful movie/tv show/book: other people claim that they had the idea first, pitched it and had it rejected (or, the creator "copied" the idea they had produced elsewhere). And now they want money and credit (but mainly money). Of course, this ignores the fact that multiple people tend to have similar story ideas all the time -- and in these sorts of things it's rarely the idea that matters, but the execution. Yet, two different and totally unrelated guys are now suing, claiming that they deserve money for coming up with the concept behind the hit TV show Hannah Montana. First, there's Buddy Sheffield, who apparently pitched a show called Rock and Roland to ABC/Disney in 2001 about "a seemingly average middle school student who actually moonlights as a pop star."

Ok, but then there's Richard Fronduto -- who claims that all the way back in 1990 he wrote a pilot script for a show called The Secret Life of Sindi about, yes, a seemingly average middle school student who actually moonlights as a pop star.

Of course, back in the 80s, I used to day dream about my secret life as as child pop-star, as well (you should have seen my air guitar routine) -- as did probably tons of other kids. Let's face it: this idea is not particularly original in the grand scheme of things. Kids always dream about leading glamorous secret lives, and being a rock star is probably a pretty common part of that. But actually then taking that idea and turning it into the massive hit that it is today is not about the idea, but about the execution. It's unfortunate that we live in an age where we so celebrate the idea, but downplay the importance of execution. It highlights exactly the wrong situation and leads to silly scenarios like this one.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: credit, hannah montana, lawsuits
Companies: disney

27 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Ima Fish, 3 Feb 2009 @ 1:36pm

Their vague ideas about a show are in no way copyrightable, so what exactly are they suing for?! I'm serious. This is complete BS. You can't own the idea of a girl who is also a pop star.

Sure, someone will comment that Disney "stole" their ideas. However, you cannot steal ideas. Ideas are not property. And it makes no sense to talk about stealing what necessarily cannot be owned. Furthermore, there is no deprivation when you use someone else's idea. If everyone can have the same idea, without depriving anyone else, how can one meaningfully talk about stealing that idea?!

Think about all the shows which originated from the show the Fugitive. The Hulk, Kung Fu, The Pretender, and Renegade all had the exact same premise: An innocent person running from the law who stops and helps people every week. Right before he gets caught at the end of the episode, he somehow manages to sneak away to help the next person in the next town.

All of those shows could be made because the idea behind the Fugitive could not be owned.

Heck, under Sheffield and Fronduto's theory, the producers of Lost owe the producers of Gilligan's Island a lot of money. As if the idea of people being stranded on an island could somehow be owned.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2009 @ 1:38pm

Back in the 80s there was the anime Magical ANgel Creamy Mami.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ima Fish, 3 Feb 2009 @ 1:50pm

Re:
Speaking of the show Kung Fu, according to Wikipedia, Bruce Lee's widow claims that Warner Bros. stole the idea of the show from Lee.

Once again, you cannot steal ideas people! You can use ideas, but it's complete nonsense to think that you can steal what cannot be owned and what cannot be deprived.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anom, 3 Feb 2009 @ 1:54pm

Don't forget Jem!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jem_(TV_series)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Steve R. (profile), 3 Feb 2009 @ 1:59pm

Collateral Damage from "strong" copyright
An unintended effect from so-called "strong" IP laws is the filing of frivolous and dubious lawsuits as an extortion attempt. Remove the "toll-both" by allowing content to quickly fall into the public domain and these lawsuits will vaporize. The ability to copy Romeo and Juliet over and over again with different twists promotes creativity. (Yes, I know Romeo and Juliet is in the public domain.)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Pffff, 3 Feb 2009 @ 2:23pm

Absolute nonsense... Hannah isn't a "Pop" star, she's a "Rock" star... next case!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2009 @ 2:36pm

Re:
lol
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Yakko Warner, 3 Feb 2009 @ 3:03pm

Re: Don't forget Jem!
Yes, the way they steal these ideas is truly outrageous!™
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Overcast, 3 Feb 2009 @ 3:25pm

Send them a 'cease and desist' order for all her stuff until it's over in court :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
neuslanjeant, 3 Feb 2009 @ 4:08pm

Re:
"Cease and desist"... I hear ya!!! They seriously have Hannah Montana everything... so irritating
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lonnie E. Holder, 3 Feb 2009 @ 4:19pm

From the this-was-done-before department
I remember this show, it was called The Partridge Family. A group of ordinary children moonlight as rock stars. Then there were the Brady's who did the same thing. Of course, the Monkees were pop stars who moonlighted as comedians. Or was it the other way around? Regardless, who cares? If this reaches a judge, I hope he does the appropriate thing with it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Feb 2009 @ 4:53pm

Re: From the this-was-done-before department
wipe his ass with it?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Peet McKimmie (profile), 3 Feb 2009 @ 4:56pm

Representation
It sounds like both sides are represented by 8th-graders moonlighting as lawyers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Carl, 3 Feb 2009 @ 5:57pm

Re: Representation
Hey, that sounds a lot like the idea for a new show that I had on the way in here!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nasch, 4 Feb 2009 @ 9:15am

Re: Re: From the this-was-done-before department
Maybe order the plaintiff to wipe Hannah Montana's ass with it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Chuck Norris' Enemy (deceased), 4 Feb 2009 @ 9:19am

Re: Don't forget Jem!
First thing I thought of was Jem, too. Who thought up that show and why aren't they getting paid? =P
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Gene Cavanaugh, 4 Feb 2009 @ 10:57am

Hannah Montana controversy
RIGHT ON, Michael!

As a patent attorney, and well-versed in the reasons for the Constitutional protections of the arts and sciences, the founders had NO intention of protecting ideas without the execution of the ideas into something useful!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
y8, 5 Feb 2009 @ 9:31am

day dreaming
I still day dream about being a rock star and I'm 41 with NO CHANCE of ever being a rock star and NO TALENT.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lonnie E. Holder, 5 Feb 2009 @ 4:01pm

Re: Re: Representation
Wait a minute, that was MY idea...pay up dude! In fact, I had put all the details into a notarized document that I kept in a safety deposit box for 30 years. Just because the bank burned down and the notarized document makes no difference. You'll just have to take my word for it.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lonnie E. Holder, 10 Feb 2009 @ 1:43pm

From the it-is-real-life dept.
I totally forgot the "inspiration" for all the later people who were "real life" children moonlighting as rock or pop stars, The Cowsills. They came before the Osmonds, the Monkees, the Partridge Family (indeed, the Partridge Family was loosely inspired by The Cowsills), Hanson and all the others. Perhaps the surviving members of the Cowsills should sue Buddy Sheffield and Richard Fronduto.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
serena johnson, 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:34pm

ihate it all
[ link to this | view in thread ]
noelle kryal, 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:36pm

I think hannah montana is so sick she is not cool i hate her
[ link to this | view in thread ]
colton johnson, 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:38pm

no let me type it just skut over
[ link to this | view in thread ]
nollle, 10 Feb 2009 @ 3:39pm

Re:
omg
[ link to this | view in thread ]
miley, 11 Apr 2009 @ 4:41pm

math
hey its me hannah montana call me at 987 451 0020 hope to see u
[ link to this | view in thread ]
jennlee, 15 May 2009 @ 12:49pm

Re: Don't forget Jem!
and superman.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
sprearson81 (profile), 9 Jun 2012 @ 6:52am

and supergirl
[ link to this | view in thread ]