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Sharon P. Carson, a writer who already had a book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man out in 2003, is claiming that Steve Harvey took her idea for his New York Times best sellling book of the same title.

Here is Ms. Carson’s press release:
“FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Mar 01, 2009 – Did Steve Harvey copy the book title Act Like A Lady Think Like A Man And theme from an earlier book? Book with same title & theme copyrighted and published by Sharon P. Carson in 2003 CHICAGO, IL – Sharon P. Carson the author of the original title; Act Like A Lady –Think Like A Man, watched the February 27th episode of the Ophra [sic] show on which Steve Harvey was promoting his book of the same title. She was hoping that Steve would reveal to Oprah where he got the title and the theme for the book. It just seemed odd to her that his book had the same title and theme as her book that was copyrighted in 2003. Thinking of all the self – published poets and authors like herself who have a hard time finding publishers for their materials, she was hoping for perhaps some recognition that the idea for the book might have come from her, especially since upon subsequently purchasing the book, she found some interesting parallels. But then she thought that it was not unusual for a high profiled person to take a great title and theme, rewrite a book and use their celebrity to sell it. This she says happens too often to the unsung poets, authors and entrepreneurs of the world. Steve wrote in his book that his hope was to “empower you with a wide-open look into the minds of men”. Sharon P. Carson wrote in her book in 2003 that women need to gain some insight into how men think in terms of relationships. Sharon also noted that in chapter 8 of Steve Harvey’s book titled “Why Men Cheat” he came to the same conclusion that she did in chapter 37 of her book, titled “Why would a man cheat”; “because they can”.
Sharon actively promoted her book before the release in January 2009 of Steve Harvey’s book and would not like to see her promotion efforts hindered. She feels that her book has much to offer from a woman’s perspective and seeks empower women to practice self love and tough love in relationships. Before the publication of Steve Harvey’s book of the same title, Sharon bought the domain name; http://www.actlikealadythinklikeaman.com/ from which she has been selling her book. She has also held seminars with women at a Chicago University in promotion of her book and can be viewed on the following youtube clip as she was being interviewed on a cable television program about her book in 2007 ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxVVQX15X2Y. Sharon hopes that her earlier book with the same title will finally receive the recognition it deserves and is currently consulting with attorneys regarding her options.”
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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Arrielle2007/ Arrielle2007

    Wow….

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Sweets110/ Sweets110

    oh wow… she needs to be recognized AND compensated.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/10isgirl30/ 10isgirl30

    Wow! I bought Steve’s Book because of his interview on Oprah. Had I known there was another book out there with the same title and theme, I would’ve checked it out as well and who knows if I would’ve bought his or Ms. Carson’s book instead.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Strong_Mind34/ Strong_Mind34

    Wow is right…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Pimptress12/ Pimptress12

    I dont think she needs to be compensated, yert. Steve has had a radio show for a long time, 7 years if not more. Remember, he was on Chicago & I think LA before the shoe went natl. I wonder if he has always presented tips for women. We shall watch & see.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Sunshyne_defined/ Sunshyne_defined

    IDK, I mean…….wow is what describes it. I definitely want to hear more about this.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SoDelicious09/ SoDelicious09

    I would like to see where this story goes. Hopefully it aint something too bad and hopefully before she decides to take legal action, he will give her the recognition that she needs.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/whodi3184life/ whodi3184life

    She will need a lot more than just the books having the same name to have any legitimate legal options, it’s not as though the names of books can be copyrighted. Having seen excerpts from both books, neither of them have much in the way of actual original thought.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Lahdeia/ Lahdeia

    Unless the book excerpts say the same thing word for word, she is going to need heck of proof.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/stephen247/ stephen247

    i’m a studing paralegal. from the looks of things, he could be out more money than he’ll make off the book. she has copyrights and patent material. i know exactly how she feels, i’ve had a couple good ideas for sitcoms and submitted my material to companys, only for them to send back my material and then they made a simular version. interllectual property and patent copyrights is the wave of the future, steve harvey got some bad business advice.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Faithful_God/ Faithful_God

    Ridiculous! Steve is already rich,popular,prosperous and favored by God! He would not stoop that low! How can a woman tell me how a man thinks? I read Steve’s book and it’s off the hook! Favor may not be fair but it’s true! I rest my case!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/upstart_22/ upstart_22

    I have a couple of issues with this post. #1: Titles cannot be copyrighted. Sorry, that’s just the law. #2: the theme isn’t really unique, either. There are countless books recommending understanding the thinking patterns of the opposite sex to better your chances of romance. I’m not a big Steve Harvey fan and I’m a self-published author, so I know where Ms. Carson is coming from with her complaint. But, guess what, she’s getting national press now, 6 years after her book was first published. That’s something a lot of authors, self-published or not, don’t receive.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/upstart_22/ upstart_22

    Oh, furthermore, it could just be mere coincidence. I wouldn’t be surprised if Steve Harvey or his people never even heard of the title. Since the advent of self-publishing and popularity of small presses, there are tons of books being published that nobody really knows about.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/forevereternal1/ forevereternal1

    i know the books are similiar but steve got the idea from the strawberry letters he and shirley gives advice on.. and he got the idea to write a book from all the listeners loving to hear what he had to say.. i remember him saying i need to write a book on relationships.. it was more said but i dont remember word for word. but his publisher may have known about the title book and did it anyway.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lermos7/ lermos7

    If she sues she loses on both fronts .First she’ll alienate readers who might have bought both books to make a comparison for themselves.second she’ll be out of more money to pay her attorney fees for she surly doesn’t have the money Steve Harvey has. Her best optio is to ride his coattail on this one. You can have books about the same subjects and they may even have the same title. This is America you know. His is about black people relationships hers about white people relationship.

    Thank you

    Lermos7

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/blkdiamondntherough/ blkdiamondntherough

    I simply don’t care! I love steve harveys book! And like the other commentor said mayb I will get ms carson book and read hers too! Win win situation! Ms carson should chill!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/mrvintage30535/ mrvintage30535

    titles cant be copy-written..period, there is no such thing as original idea, unless it comes from your personal life, and self-help ideas cant be patented, trademarked or copy written, honestly she needs to be lucky people know her book even exist, but i feel her pain..unless steve copied her book word for word then he shouldn’t have a problem, but i have seen crazier things in life.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lisa1999/ lisa1999

    Unfortunately her book must not have been promoted very well because this is the first time a lot of people have heard of her. When promotion happens well it wouldn’t matter if 4 people use the same name each would be remembered in it’s own right.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/alex_65_98/ alex_65_98

    Seems like a coincidence to me.Mr.Harvey is a highly skilled professional and VERY BUSY entertainer who has shown to have a personal calling for the betterment of black folks in America(particularly black women).This man has made millions doing stand-up comedy,sitcoms,commercials,talkshows etc. I am totally convinced that Mr. Harvey saw an opportunity to write a book in order to lay some issues on the table concerning male/female relationships in order to give his listeners and fans a take on his perception of the issues that concern our black sisters. It seems that his only fault was relying on folks who he probably trusted (Publishers/PR folks etc.) to create a first-class book by a First Class author named Steve Harvey. They failed by not ensuring that he would get no negative feedback that may question his integrity and put him in the same boat as the “Ophrah Book Club” Fakes who betrayed the trust for greed. His handlers could have taken a little time to make sure that if anyone was writing a book under the same name(simple Google check)to check the content and adjust PR promotion accordingly or make recognition of the fact in public before the Promotion and clear up any misunderstandings from the “Get Go”. Looks like Ms. Carson would be better off promoting her book off of Mr. Harvey’s tailwind instead of spending a lot of money in legal battles. Also, it would be nice if Mr. Harvey gave a little “love token” to Ms. Carson being that he don’t seem to be hurting for money and made this book from responses of the “Strawberry Letter”..He’s just too classy of a guy to steal someone else’s work and there is definitely no motive whatsoever except his sincere desire to put some black women issues on the table by way of a book in his own special context and perspective. Enough said.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/YOURNAWTEEGIRL/ YOURNAWTEEGIRL

    JUST BECAUSE THE TITLE IS THE SAME DOESN’T MEAN THEY HAD THE SAME THINGS TO SAY INSIDE THE BOOK..WHO CARES?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Schelby/ Schelby

    Hmmm. Seems like more than just coincidence. Seems more intentional than random. As an author myself, I hate to see anyone’s idea get co-opted by someone else especially a non-celeb vs a well-known personality whose name alone can steal thunder. Careless of the publisher to allow this to happen especially since the topics and some of the content are the same. I like Harvey too but fair is fair. I hope it can be resolved.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/slliks67/ slliks67

    looks like mr harvey is doing just what his book proclaims acting like a man putting a woman on the back burner yall keep listening to this cat if yall want he stole from a woman and yall trying to justify he see an opportunity to capture the woman audience and is going full force with it dont be fooled

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/jibril616/ jibril616

    This could be a coincidence or just two people addressing the same topic. Many preachers and ministers teach similar topics on Sunday but from different perspectives.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Joe-Props/ Joe-Props

    If you sit on an idea long enough, someone else will come up with the same idea.

    I challenge anyone to come up with an idea in his/her head and write it down with the date and tell nobody. If you sit back and wait, eventually your idea will be thought of by someone else.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/shindogg/ shindogg

    like theres no random chance he came up with the idea himself without ever hearin about or readin her book. what is she tryin to say? that steve cant speak to women about relationships and themselves because hes not a woman? like how a doctor cant diagnose a disease because they dont have it themselves? thats ignorant. i bet mr harvey doesnt know her book exists, much less does he care. its not like he plagurized her book and put his name on it. she cant do s**t. just let the man share his feelings on relationships. he’ll probably stop doin it after a while and go back to his stand up shtick.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Heart_Mender67/ Heart_Mender67

    Nothing new under the sun.

  • http://eroticstile.co.cc/book-why-do-men-cheat-opera book why do men cheat opera | Book info

    [...] Did Steve Harvey Rip Off His Book Idea? | News One Mar 29, 2009… watched the February 27th episode of the Ophra [sic] show on which … Sharon also noted that in chapter 8 of Steve Harvey's book titled “Why Men Cheat ” he came to the same … [...]

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