'Conan' Is Being Sued For Allegedly Stealing Jokes From Twitter

Did Conan O'Brien steal his jokes from Twitter?
|

Conan O'Brien, his production company and TBS are being targeted in a lawsuit claiming the talk show host's jokes were stolen from a man's Twitter account and blog.

In a lawsuit filed in California on July 22, comedy writer Robert Kaseberg claims that "Conan" allegedly violated copyright on four of his jokes between January and June of 2015. But Conaco, Conan O’Brien’s production company, and "Conan" announcer Andy Richter aren't having any of it.

In a statement released on Monday, a rep for Conaco told Entertainment Weekly, "We at Conaco firmly believe there is no merit to this lawsuit." On Monday, Richter joked about the allegations, writing, "There's no possible way more than one person could have concurrently had these same species-elevating insights!"

The first joke on which the lawsuit claims "Conan" violated copyright was published on Kaseberg's blog on Jan. 14, 2015. In the joke, Kaseberg writes, "A Delta flight this week took off from Cleveland to New York with just two passengers. And they fought over control of the armrest the entire flight." As The Hollywood Reporter points out, O'Brien told a similar joke about a Delta flight that same day.

According to the lawsuit, Kaseberg also wrote a Tom Brady joke on his blog and Twitter on Feb. 3, 2015, that he claims was stolen. Kaseberg wrote, "Tom Brady said he wants to give his MVP truck to the man who won the game for the Patriots. So enjoy that truck, Pete Carroll." The next day, a similar joke appeared during O'Brien's monologue. The two other jokes mentioned in the complaint were on the topics of Caitlyn Jenner and the Washington Monument, respectively.

The lawsuit comes after recent news that Twitter is cracking down on stolen tweets and allowing users to claim copyright infringement. View the full complaint against "Conan" here.

Also on HuffPost:

Conan O'Brien Through The Years
Young Conan(01 of32)
Open Image Modal
THR initially posted this mysterious photo of young Conan, evidently during his Hawaiian/Roman period.
Young "Simpsons" Writer(02 of32)
Open Image Modal
(credit:Wikimedia / Bill Oakley)
The Audition(03 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan O'Brien interviews Jason Alexander for his "Late Night" audition in 1993 on the set of Jay Leno's "Tonight Show."
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(04 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan was full of nerves his first few years on "Late Night," but eventually won audiences and critics over. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(05 of32)
Open Image Modal
Young Jon Stewart appears on Conan's show in the early '90s (hence the regrettable denim). (credit:Getty Images)
Debut Letterman Appearance (06 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan first appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman" on July 29th, 1994. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru9WoC1LtR8" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru9WoC1LtR8" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">YouTube</a>)
1995 White House Correspondents Dinner(07 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner for the first time in 1995 and he will do so again in 2013. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bneq9XgF9M" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bneq9XgF9M" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">YouTube</a>)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(08 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan interviews Martha Stewart on "Late Night." (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(09 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan interviews Peter Gallagher. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(10 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan and sidekick Andy Richter have some WASPy cheer. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(11 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan used to have Tony Bennett on his Christmas show every year. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(12 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan interviews Ellen DeGeneres in 1996. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Season 5(13 of32)
Open Image Modal
By its 5th year, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" had really hit its stride. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night Interview 1997(14 of32)
Open Image Modal
Interviewing Fred Savage on "Late Night" in 1997.
Late Night Interview 1998(15 of32)
Open Image Modal
Interviewing fellow comedian and "SNL" alum Ana Gasteyer. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27XlnLXiDDU" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27XlnLXiDDU" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">YouTube</a>)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(16 of32)
Open Image Modal
Jim Carrey played one of the most popular characters from "Late Night," the Masturbating Bear. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien(17 of32)
Open Image Modal
Dave Chappelle stops by "Late Night." (credit:Getty Images)
Jimmy Fallon(18 of32)
Open Image Modal
Jimmy Fallon's debut "Late Night" appearance on 2/18/1999. He'd go on to take over the show from Conan.
Late Night Interview 2000(19 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan interviews Britney Spears at the height of her popularity. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q9y_u36LnY" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q9y_u36LnY" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">YouTube</a>)
Late Night Interview 2001(20 of32)
Open Image Modal
Interviewing Tina Fey in 2001. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlvTaREVCQw" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlvTaREVCQw" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">YouTube</a>)
Conan O'Brian at 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Inside(21 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan made a splash when hosting the 2002 Emmy Awards, which he would repeat in 2003 and 2006. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night Interview 2003(22 of32)
Open Image Modal
Interviewing Christopher Walken in 2003.
Brad Pitt and Janet Jackson Visit "Late Night with Conan O' Brien"(23 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan interviews Brad Pitt. (credit:Getty Images)
Conan & His Wife(24 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan and his wife Liza Powel O'Brien. They have two children. (credit:Getty Images)
Late Night "Year In Review"(25 of32)
Open Image Modal
Talking to "George W. Bush" in his 2005 year in review special. (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7zNwbR-YRk" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7zNwbR-YRk" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">YouTube</a>)
58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards - Show(26 of32)
Open Image Modal
He was a big hit when he again hosted the Emmys in 2006. (credit:Getty Images)
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien(27 of32)
Open Image Modal
Louis CK, who started his career as a staff writer on "Late Night," visits Conan on "The Tonight Show." (credit:Getty Images)
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien(28 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan reunited with Andy Richter for "The Tonight Show." (credit:Getty Images)
Conan O'Brien Performing(29 of32)
Open Image Modal
After leaving "The Tonight Show," Conan traveled across the country on the "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour." (credit:WikiMedia:)
Conan O'Brien(30 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan reappeared on TBS for a new talk show, "Conan." (credit:AP)
Guitar Battle With Jack Black 2010(31 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan playing guitar with Jack Black on "Conan." (credit:<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peEEQ7T-TU8" target="_blank" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="YouTube" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="55b7ae8de4b0224d8833fdf4" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peEEQ7T-TU8" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="0" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">YouTube</a>)
Christmas in Washington(32 of32)
Open Image Modal
Conan hosts the "Christmas in Washington" show with the First Family. (credit:AP)

To subscribe to our HuffPost Entertainment WhatsApp account:

1. Download WhatsApp on your phone.

2. Save this number, 347-334-1794, in your phone’s contacts.

3. Text "POP" to that number via your WhatsApp account.

You can unsubscribe at any time by texting “STOP" to the same number.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost