On December 18, 2015, U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee dismissed a suit against the National Football League (NFL), which alleged that the league stole the idea for their Emmy-nominated television show, “Undrafted.”
Ricky Reed filed suit against the NFL, Roger Goodell, and eight NFL employees in March, claiming that the league had ripped off his idea for the television show “Undrafted.” In his complaint, Reed alleged that he contacted the NFL in August of 2013 to pitch an idea about a show that he thought to be “the football version of American Idol.” Reed claims that an NFL employee responded via email, asking him to submit a proposal of his idea. Subsequently, Reed sent the employee, and seven other employees, a proposal describing his idea for a show about athletes competing in football-based competitions for a chance to win a cash prize and an opportunity to visit an NFL team. Just days after Reed submitted his proposal, he received a response from the NFL explaining that they were not interested in his idea.
Reed brought suit after the NFL aired “Undrafted” in October of 2014 on the NFL Network. The show follows football players who are working to make an NFL team’s roster, which Reed claims is a “bootleg version” of his original idea.
Judge Dolly Gee initially dismissed Reed’s claim in September but gave the plaintiff an opportunity to amend his complaint. Later, the Judge permitted Reed to file a second amended complaint. In the complaint, Reed argues that it is common practice in the industry to maintain the confidentiality of television pitches until the project is accepted, at which point the creator is to be compensated for his ideas. In support of his claim, Reed submitted the email communication between him and the eight NFL employees. However, Judge Lee did not find the emails convincing.
In the order, Judge Gee provides, “Reed fails to allege any exchanges with Defendants, however, which demonstrate that Defendants took steps to evaluate his proposal or that they acted in conformance with any industry practice or other understanding to compensate him for his ideas.”
On Friday, Judge Gee dismissed the action with prejudice, finding that Reed’s second amended complaint did not raise any new allegations and that proceeding with the action would be futile and a waste of judicial resources.