Filmmaker Tyler Perry Denies Stealing Film Idea From Author

December 4, 2008 10:46 a.m. EST

Marshall, TX (CNS) - Filmmaker Tyler Perry is denying allegations that he stole material for his 2005 hit film "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" from an author.

Donna West is suing the actor/director for copyright infringement, saying she developed a script called "Fantasy of a Black Woman" based on her experiences and that Perry stole the idea when the play was performed in 1991 at the Dallas Convention Center.

Perry denies the claims at a hearing on Tuesday in Marshall, Texas, telling the jury, "I never stole anything from anybody - never."

Perry also said that he does not have an original copy of the script because he sends all his work to the Library of Congress for copyright purposes.

The author wants the entire profit from Perry's film version, which earned around $50 million, to be given to her.