Michael Avenatti
May 18, 2006 11:07 AM US Eastern Timezone
Mark Bethea Idea Theft Case against Mark Burnett Productions
Will Begin Trial on Wednesday, May 31, 2006; Bethea Claims Burnett
Stole Concept That Became “The Apprentice’’
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 18, 2006–Trial in Mark Bethea’s idea theft lawsuit against Mark Burnett and Mark Burnett
Productions, Inc. will begin at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 in Los Angeles Superior Court/Department 52, 111 North Hill
Street, Los Angeles, CA. 90012 before the Hon. Susan Bryant-Deason. Bethea filed a complaint for damages for breach of implied-infact
contract and breach of confidence on March 14, 2005. He claims that Burnett used his idea for a reality-based television show
called “C.E.O.” and turned it into “The Apprentice” which first aired in January 2004 on NBC television. Other defendants in the
case include JMPB, Inc. and Conrad Riggs. Bethea v. Mark Burnett et. al., Case No. BC330265.
Each side will give a five-minute presentation to the court outlining their case prior to the start of jury selection. Opening
statements in the case are anticipated to start on Friday, June 2, 2006 at 8:30 AM and the trial is expected to last 2-3 weeks.
Mark Bethea and his marketing/production company,Velocity Entertainment Group, are jointly represented by Browne Greene,
Scott Carr and Michael J.Avenatti with the Santa Monica, CA. law firm of Greene Broillet Wheeler and Ronald W. Makarem,
Marni B. Folinsky and Michael S. Makarem with the Los Angeles, CA. law firm of Makarem Associates.
In August 2000, Mark Bethea, age 44, conceived a reality television show entitled “C.E.O.” which had contestants competing against
one another in a corporate environment for promotions, perks and benefits and which proposed Donald Trump as its host. Bethea
registered a 5-page treatment of his idea for “C.E.O.” with the Writers Guild of America in Los Angeles on August 30, 2000. In
February 2001, Bethea created a 12-minute PowerPoint presentation of “C.E.O.” which included text, video images, narration and
music to facilitate marketing and pitching his idea.
In June 2001, Bethea was put in contact with Conrad Riggs, who is Mark Burnett’s business manager and accepts pitches on
Burnett’s behalf. Bethea met with Riggs at his Santa Monica, CA. office and pitched him all three of his reality television ideas:
“Air Combat,” “Speed Demons” and “C.E.O.” Bethea also gave Riggs treatments for all three shows and a copy of the “C.E.O.”
PowerPoint presentation. Riggs informed Bethea that they were not interested in “C.E.O.” Throughout all of their communications,
it was understood that all three of the projects that Bethea presented were to be kept confidential and that Defendants would
not use any of Bethea’s ideas without fairly crediting and compensating him.
On April 2, 2003,“The Apprentice” was announced to the public, and that it would be produced by Mark Burnett Productions, Inc.
in association with Trump Productions, LLC., with Mark Burnett, Donald Trump and Jay Bienstock as Executive Producers and
Conrad Riggs as Co-Executive Producer of the show. Bethea’s efforts to contact the Defendants to be given screen credit and
compensation for his original work were repeatedly rebuffed prior to the initial airing of the show.
“The Apprentice” debuted on NBC television on January 8, 2004, and Bethea claims that the show is a version of his original
“C.E.O.” idea. Bethea filed this lawsuit on March 14, 2005.
Per the complaint, in just the first season alone,“The Apprentice” generated gross revenue in excess of $100 million, with DVDs of
the show and other products being sold domestically and internationally.“The Apprentice” is currently in its fifth season and a sixth
season will air on NBC television in 2007.
“Mark Burnett and Conrad Riggs unscrupulously lifted Mark Bethea’s ‘C.E.O.’ idea and incorporated its signature elements into ‘The
Apprentice’ without giving Bethea any credit or compensation for his originality,” stated Browne Greene.“Although Burnett and
Riggs are the current darlings of the reality television genre, they are not above the law. Our job is to put an end to their bullying
and intimidation tactics and to see to it that Mark Bethea has his day in court.”
“This is one of the very rare idea theft cases to actually go to trial,” explained Ronald W. Makarem.“Most creative people won’t
challenge a powerful producer because they fear that they will be blacklisted and will never get a second chance in Hollywood.
Mark Bethea is a man of principle and is standing up for what is right.‘C.E.O.’ is his baby and he is not about to let anyone take it
from him.”