Deadline

Oprah Winfrey stole her famous phrase "Own Your Power" ... from a New Jersey business woman -- that's according to a lawsuit filed against O and Harpo Productions.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in a New Jersey federal court, Simone Kelly-Brown (CEO of something called Own Your Power Communications, Inc.) claims her company has been around since 1996 ... providing "a personal brand of self-awareness and motivational communication services."

According to the trademark infringement suit ... Kelly-Brown claims all the trouble started with the October 2010 issue of Oprah's magazine, which included the headline "Own Your Power."

The suit claims the infringement continued when the magazine directed readers to a section of O's website called Own Your Power (see it here).

Kelly-Brown alleges a self-help collision nearly occurred when she and Oprah both hosted Own Your Power events in the same city ... just days apart.

Kelly-Brown is suing for unspecified damages.

NBC News tells TMZ ... it did not offer Casey Anthony any money for an interview with her.

An NBC rep tells us, "NBC News has not and will not be in a bidding war for a Casey Anthony interview. No money has or will be offered, no licensing or other arrangements. If we were to conduct an interview it would be under our standards."

The rep confirms ... NBC did indeed foot the bill for Jose Baez' suite at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City last week. As we reported, Baez met with famed celeb lawyer Mark Geragos last Thursday in the hotel bar, discussing negotiating strategy and talking about the "big price tag" for the interview.

And sources connected with ABC insist there was indeed a bidding war between the networks.

Another member of the Kardashian Klan has agreed to compete on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars" TMZ has learned ... but it ain't Khloe ... or Kourtney ... or Kris -- it's a dude!

Multiple sources confirm ... Rob Kardashian is officially on board -- despite concerns about the "Dancing" schedule conflicting with Kim's super MEGA wedding in August. We're told the two sides addressed the issue and hammered out a plan -- and Rob signed on the dotted line.

Looking tough with his shaved head, Jake Gyllenhaal brought out the big guns to portray a cop on the set of his new flick "End of Watch" in L.A. the other day.

A riot broke out in the center of Hollywood last night ... but instead of looting, the "rioters" were planking, instead of guns there were glow sticks.

The disturbance erupted during the premiere of the "Electric Daisy Carnival Experience" at the Grauman's Chinese Theater. DJ Kaskade drew a crowd by tweeting "Today@6pm in Hollywood @Mann's Chinese Theatre. ME+BIG SPEAKERS+MUSIC=BLOCK PARTY!!!"

Hundreds of people descended on Grauman's, only to be told by cops the event was canceled, triggering the "riot."

Some of the fans jumped on police cruisers ... the cops in riot gear responded by shooting bean bags to break up the crowd.

It was the funnest riot ever, complete with tourists, kids, people all glittered up, women dressed as geishas adorned with electric lights ... even an overweight dude in pasties.

Fresh out of the hospital from a boogie boarding injury, Maria Shriver's son Christopher Schwarzenegger dined in the healing glow of one Oprah Winfrey last night.

Finally, Renee Zellweger and Rene Russo in an all out battle for the ages -- whose movies would you rather be forced to watch?! We know ... mud wrestling would've been way cooler.

Joe Pesci is suing the producers of "Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father," claiming his deal was so iron-clad, he gained 30 pounds for his role, only to be told he wasn't wanted anymore.

In the lawsuit, Pesci claims reps from Fiore Films offered him the critical role of Angelo Ruggiero, Gotti's close friend and enforcer. Pesci says he made a deal for $3 million.

But Pesci says after he was lured into making public statements about how happy he was to appear in the movie -- which stars John Travolta as John Gotti, Jr. -- the producers pulled the deal, claiming Pesci breached the deal by trying to back out.

Pesci claims he was offered a lesser role -- playing Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso -- for the lesser fee of $1 mil.

But this is the best part. Pesci's lawyer claims his client relied on the contract by assuming the character of Ruggiero in every respect: "[Pesci] has since ended his very strict and healthy diet, and has so far gained approximately 30 pounds in anticipation of playing Ruggiero, who was well known for his heavy and stocky build."

Pesci is suing for $3 million minimum, as well as punitive damages.

TMZ has obtained a photo of the alleged she-burglar Alex Trebek was chasing out of his hotel room early this morning ... when he snapped his Achilles tendon.

Answer: This 71-year-old game show host snapped his Achilles tendon while chasing a criminal through a San Francisco hotel this morning.

Question: Who is Alex "DESTROYER OF EVIL" Trebek!!!!!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!!?

Trebek -- perhaps the greatest Canadian who ever lived -- crutched his way into the National Geographic World Championship at Google headquarters in CA today and explained he was trying to catch a burglar when the injury occurred.

Trebek says he's feeling OK.

It's unclear if the suspect was ever captured ... or what he allegedly stole ... but we're willing to wager that Alex won't rest until JUSTICE is served!!!!

UPDATE: The suspect has been ARRESTED ... and according to ABC7 in SF ... the alleged bad guy is actually an alleged bad girl.

Cops say a 56-year-old woman was booked on felony burglary and possession of stolen property after allegedly entering Trebek's room and taking cash and a bracelet his mother gave him ... and then stashing it near an ice machine on Trebek's floor.

Trebek injured himself while chasing the woman down the hallway.

*THIS HAS BEEN A MERV GRIFFIN PRODUCTION.*

Kat Von D walked off the set of "Good Day L.A." this morning ... minutes before she was set to give an interview -- and we're told, it was all because the anchor mentioned her breakup with Jesse James.

Sources on set tell TMZ, Kat was all set to give the interview -- but flipped out when she heard how she was introduced on the show ... and walked out of the building before the interview even started.

During the introduction, "Good Day" aired a clip from Kat's show "L.A. Ink" -- showing Kat getting a tattoo of Jesse James on her side -- and anchor Jeff Michael mentioned she got the tattoo before she and Jesse called it quits.

According to sources, Kat was pissed Michael even brought up her relationship with Jesse ... and stormed out of the building.

We're told Kat approved the Jesse James tattoo clip from her show -- and even got a heads up from "Good Day" producers that she would be asked about the breakup during the interview.

It's unclear what exactly went wrong -- but Kat just tweeted, "Dear GoodDayLA, thanks for the waste of a perfectly good morning. Lack of compassion n respect for each other never fails to disappoint me."

Nothing's official yet -- but sources tell us, both Artest and "Dancing" producers have been in touch to hash out a possible deal ... and Ron's pretty excited about the prospect.

But here's the catch -- "Dancing" won't end 'til November and basketball season typically starts in October ... which means if the lockout ends early, Ron could be S.O.L.

The bidding has gone crazy ... we're hearing the bidding for a Casey interview was over $1.5 million.

Now ABC News has just released a statement, saying it will no longer pay for photos and video in exchange for interviews.

The announcement comes days after TMZ published a story ... that Casey's lawyer, Jose Baez, was holed up in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City, taking bids from NBC, ABC and CBS. As we reported, Baez was in the Hotel bar Thursday night, discussing strategy with famed lawyer Mark Geragos.

Our sources say all three networks were offering the same deal -- they would pay a fortune to license photos and video from Casey. Short story -- it's a dishonest way of saying they don't pay for interviews.

We're told NBC -- which paid for Baez' hotel room -- was leading the pack in the Casey bidding war, even though the Network denied it was offering any money for an interview -- which is technically correct.

In its statement, ABC says, "We can book just about anyone based on the strength of our journalism."

Sure they can.

The "Idol" gang FREAKED OUT when a series of crazy "coincidences" occurred in the Bev Hills mansion back in March ... including a spooky spider infestation, flickering lights and one of the wannabes SWORE they saw a white sheet come to life and float down the stairs.

But now, the house has officially sold to a guy named Steven B. Dunn -- the guy who started a baby product company called Munchkin, Inc. ... which posted more than $100 mil in sales in 2008.

The house -- 9 beds, 9 baths, giant pool, marble all over the place and a motor court with enough room to park 100 cars -- was originally on the market for $12 mil ... so it appears Dunn got himself quite a deal.

Rutledge tells TMZ he recently purchased a 1966 VW Double Cab -- and even though it doesn't have any seat belts yet, it did come with a cool surfboard ... and he plans to put a '50s Coca-Cola cooler in it as well.

The car enthusiast says his father-in-law found the car on eBay and asked Rutledge to go check it out for him. Wood fell in love with it and made a deal to trade his 1970 Datsun 521 for it, as well as a little extra cash.