# Hollywood has stolen my million dollar movie idea **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053 "2004-01-06T18:26:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/1 "2004-01-06T18:26:11Z")
I have no idea how it has happened, but Hollywood has stolen my million dollar movie idea :eek: Let me explain. A few weeks ago, I was having a slow office day, so I started reading humor (mormon, gay, bill clinton) online. Suddenly I have an idea, about a gay man falling for a Mormon missionary?? And the story starts to develop- mr. gay is a non-commital gay, only wanting to have some fun. Enter a mormon missionary into the neighbourhood, and mr. g is ready for a commitment with mr. m. and the story then begins. but yesterday, I found [this](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345551/) on imdb :eek: As you can see, this is a clear case of theft. I have no idea how they managed to read my mind though, since I havent put the story down in words. And the sad part is that I cannot sue them because of this. But I wont let it go without telling it to the someone or the smdb forum. So there you have it, the truth is out. Sympathies from members welcomed and appreciated. Also, I didn’t know which forum this thread belonged to, so I put it here. I hope the moderator will send it to the right forum. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/2 "2004-01-06T18:45:11Z")
> [@](#): > > As you can see, this is a clear case of theft The film made it’s premiere 7/10/03 in Philly. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345551/releaseinfo](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0345551/releaseinfo) This would make your idea a little late. It’s happened to all of us. I once had the idea of taking a loaf of bread and cutting it into individual slices, but someone beat me to it. Some of us just can’t catch a break. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/3 "2004-01-06T19:28:39Z")
Yep, I invented brake lights and clipboards when I was younger. Imagine my dismay when I found out that those things were already invented. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/4 "2004-01-06T19:47:10Z")
**noname** , your thread belongs in MPSIMS (Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share). GQ is for questions with factual answers. Please read forum descriptions carefully before starting your next thread. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/5 "2004-01-06T19:50:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Casey1505 \* > \*\*I once had the idea of taking a loaf of bread and cutting it into individual slices, but someone beat me to it. \*\* Bullshit! That was _my_ idea! Why you mind-scoping, intellectual property-thieving beast! You read my mind back before I was conceived! You can’t deny it!!! So, **noname** did the movie actually make a million? ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/6 "2004-01-06T19:55:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > **Bullshit! That was _my_ idea! Why you mind-scoping, intellectual property-thieving beast! You read my mind back before I was conceived! You can’t deny it!!!** Hey!:mad: Who the hell are you calling “intellectual”?!?! ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/7 "2004-01-06T20:04:40Z")
You think **that’s** a rip-off. I had this idea for remaking “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” only changing the villain so it would be this shifty-eyed dog. The people would suspect the dog. That, and take out that Godawful filibuster scene. It was fine for the 1930s – the country was doing great back then. Everyone was into talking. But now, in whatever year this is, the audience wants action. And seats with beverage holders. But mainly action. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/8 "2004-01-06T20:24:49Z")
I came up with the idea for portable electronic music player (like, say, a CompactFlash MP3 player) as a very young child in the mid-80s. I had some edutainment toy that had different word games on these little cartridges. I thought. . .“Why don’t they put music on these cartridges, there’d be no skipping, no tape wearing out, and no moving parts to break!” Of course, being like 6 years old I was not yet able to move on to the implementation phase. By the time high school and college had come along and I had a better knowledge base with which to exploit my Big Idea, I found that it was already basically done. ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/9 "2004-01-07T00:52:31Z")
Back in middle school (mid-80’s) I came up with a concept very, very similar to the upcoming movie [Butterfly Effect](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289879/). Of course, I never did anything with it. And Professor Frink stole my idea for [mood pants](http://www.internerd.com/frink.retired/frinkv.3/episodes/5f/). I shall never forgive him. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/10 "2004-01-07T00:59:52Z")
I came up with the idea to combine a TV and VCR in one machine back in about 1987 or so. They probably already existed back then, but I’d never heard of them. I’m somewhat embarrassed to realize that that one idea may have been the creative pinnacle of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Grousser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@Grousser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grousser)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/11 "2004-01-07T03:11:53Z")
My own ideas had been stolen not only by Hollywood but by all kind of people. I invented the video camera when I was 7, the mp3 player when I was 15 and a plot about a little alien who grabs the heart of a family, among others (coming up with the story about a big ship who sunks in its initial trip was enough to my parents, then). Damn. Maybe we should found a Club. You name it. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/12 "2004-01-07T03:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grousser \* > \*\* > Maybe we should found a Club. You name it. \*\* Has the name “He-Man Woman Haters Club” been taken yet? Not that we hate women, but ever since I came up with the name back in '75, I’ve been looking to found or co-found a club and name it that. You should see the cool salute I came up with, too! ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/13 "2004-01-07T17:40:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eats\_Crayons \* > \*\*So, **noname** did the movie actually make a million? \*\* I was planning on getting Brendan Fraser and Ed Norton interested, so that would have ensured a decent initial. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Casey1505_ > This would make your idea a little late You mean a pre cognitive intellectual theft :eek: And when yo udo found that club, count me into it. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/14 "2004-01-07T20:51:52Z")
I invented TiVo in 1972, so there! And I just know they stole it from me while I was having Tea, therefore the name… _Ti_Vo. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Eo\_Echo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ebca7d/32.png) [@Eo\_Echo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eo_Echo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/15 "2004-01-07T20:59:27Z")
I invented Nextels in 1990. My requests for royalties have thus far gone ignored…but I ain’t quitting, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![DeaganTheWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DeaganTheWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeaganTheWolf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/16 "2004-01-07T21:21:46Z")
Someone stole the idea for a comic book off one of my old throw away sketch pads. 1998 or so I came up with a tall skinny male character with a scarred left eye, long curled goatee who wears a broad brimmed hat and duster. he carries a shotgun and hunts robots in the old west apocalyptic style future. In 2001 or 2 a comic was released that had that SAME character down to the eye scar and a very similar storyline. I DO know that one of my highschool aqquaintences works for said company. Bastard. If I ONLY had bought that copyright… ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/17 "2004-01-07T21:47:26Z")
I came up with the idea for movies “on-damand” more than 10 years ago. I was visiting a friend who had a HUGE library of videocasettes, and I asked myself where the technology could possibly go next. What I came up with was having a central databank that stored thousands of films, which subscribers could tap into and view whenever they wanted. Lo and behold, it’s now available every night in my living room. Should’ve put in for a patent, dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/18 "2004-01-08T01:10:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by noname \* > \*\*I was planning on getting Brendan Fraser and Ed Norton interested, so that would have ensured a decent initial. > \*\* Oh, well if you’re on chatty terms with Brendan Fraser, tell him to e-mail me. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/19 "2004-01-08T01:16:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Casey1505 \* > \*\*Hey!:mad: Who the hell are you calling “intellectual”?!?! \*\* You’re right. I’m sorry. That was totally uncalled for. ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053/20 "2004-01-08T01:53:50Z")
I came up with using electronic RAM as removable storage - much more space than a floppy or even a ZIP disk while simultaneously being more compact. Storage wouldn’t be as high as CD-Rs, but it’s about a million times faster, so who cares? I mean, computer tapes have plenty of space, but they’re slow as all hell. Plus, even at the time (a few years ago) RAM was almost as cheap per unit of storage even than 3.5" floppies, and cheaper than 250 MB ZIP disks. The difference was more than made up, in my mind, by the utility of 256 MB or even 512 MB being immediately available. It would take 178 high density floppies to have 256 MB of storage in a format that already suffers from a very slow transfer bitrate. I was told a couple of times that this idea was impractical for silly reasons that I can’t remember now. No way, I insisted, the convenience was well worth investing some research and money into overcoming the downsides. Well, here we are, a few years later and removable RAM sticks are becoming all the rage. What’s more, they’re still more practical than I had predicted - ZIP died (effectively) because the technology never became standard. RAM sticks use the USB technology that is now on every computer built in the last 3 years or so (and which has been around for 5-6 plus). I predict them sweeping the market within a couple of years at the outside. Go figure. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hollywood-has-stolen-my-million-dollar-movie-idea/223053.md?page=2)