Man Says He Invented ‘Road Trip’ Show

BROOKLYN (CN) - A man that the BBC and NBC stole his concept for "The Great American Road Trip," and the Travel Channel's online submission solicitations amounted to a racketeering scheme for unpaid labor. Using his company name 5 Plus 7 Inc., Christopher Cardillo claims he submitted his idea in March 2008 for a show that follows "a family of four ... as they drive from NYC to the tip of South America in a Winnebago."

Since he submitted the idea, Cardillo says, the BBC used the concept for "The Great American Road Trip," a reality TV show to be distributed by NBC.

Cox Communications, which owns Travel Media, is also named as a defendant.

Cardillo says that he was never compensated or given screen credit for the idea.

He demands damages for negligence, conversion, unjust enrichment and copyright infringement, and also sued Travel Media and its manager Patrick Young, alleging fraud and RICO violations.

Represented by his own law firm, Cardillo seeks compensatory damages and a declaratory judgment awarding him a screen credit.

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