TYLER PERRY - PERRY DENIES 'SCRIPT THEFT' ACCUSATION

PERRY DENIES 'SCRIPT THEFT' ACCUSATION

Filmmaker TYLER PERRY has denied claims he stole ideas from four movies - including MRS DOUBTFIRE and THE COLOR PURPLE - for his 2005 blockbuster DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN.
The screenwriter is embroiled in a court case amid accusations he lifted the concept of the film from the manuscript of a play entitled Fantasy of a Black Woman.
The play's author, Donna West, is suing Perry and wants the court to award her the entire profits from the movie, believed to be around $50 million (GBP34 million).
Giving evidence at the hearing in Marshall, Texas, Perry denied claims from West's attorney that he had also taken ideas from Mrs Doubtfire, The Color Purple, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Big Momma's House, and used them in his film.
The director told the jury: "I never stole anything from anybody - never."
Perry's lawyer told the court the filmmaker does not have an original copy of the script because he sends all his work to the Library of Congress for copyright purposes.
The hearing continues.