ABC faces suit over idea for ‘Inventor’

An Orange County man has sued ABC, claiming the network stole his idea for a reality TV show.

Landon Duval says in a lawsuit filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court that he registered a copyright for a show, including the name “American Inventor,” in June 2005. Two months later, the suit says, Duval pitched the idea to an ABC executive but no agreement came out of their meeting. Last year, ABC launched a show called “American Inventor.” ABC declined to comment Monday.

Two Minnesota men sued ABC and coproducers FremantleMedia and Simon Cowell in federal court in 2005, claiming it was their idea to produce an inventor-themed program. That case was settled last year.