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Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
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Couple Says Richard Simmons|Swiped Their Idea & Sold It To Mattel

PITTSBURGH (CN) - A married couple claims exercise guru Richard Simmons swiped their idea for an interactive video game people can play on treadmills, and sold it to Mattel.

Susan and Daniel Dunlap claim they contacted Simmons in October 2006 about "their idea ... to combine the exercise and fitness of a treadmill with the entertainment of a video game or computer-generated virtual reality world." The Dunlaps called it "S&D Treadmill Travels." They say Simmons told them, via email, to submit the idea to his assistant, which they did. They say they heard no more about it until November 2007, when they saw a TV ad for a "Smart Cycle," the idea for which, they say, Simmons stole from them and sold to Mattel.

The Dunlaps demand damages for misappropriation, fraud and unjust enrichment. They also sue Celebrities Plus and Fisher Price. They are represented by Kari Baumgart.

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