Oprah Sued for Plagiarism: Writer Charles Harris Says Star Read His Work on Talk Show

NEW YORK (CBS) A Philadelphia writer is suing Oprah Winfrey for plagiarism, after she allegedly read on her talk show passages from a political booklet he penned, without permission.

According to Reuters, Charles Harris filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming that on the Feb. 16, 2009 episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," Winfrey read word-for-word questions that were the same as in his work, "How America Elects Her Presidents."

The complaint states that Harris had sent several copies of his booklet to the show in 2008, in hopes of gaining publicity during President Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He says he never heard back from the show.

According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Harris claims that "the language and structure of the questions were exactly the same," adding that the use was "deliberate, willful, malicious, oppressive and without regard to (his) property rights."

Reuters reports that Harris is seeking $150,000 for each "unlawful use," plus statutory damages.