Its been around since the industry was established... Seeking new material (scripts, ideas and concepts). Every studio is looking for the next hot property, so they solicit from any and everywhere.

While attend a pitch session in LA, production companies, producers and their staff rented a hughe banquet facility and had open pitches. I walked around the room to get a feel of how the process was working. I found it very informal and some what crude. Several producer had administive help writing down the pitches that held the producers interst. When the dejected pitcher walked away, the producer told his assistant to take the last pitch and mix it with the first pitch." Make a note of that for me."

At that point I stood back and viewed the entire room. Most of all the producer were there sucking the life blood out of these writers and creative minds. I left the room knowing that these producer hear a good idea, and they throw the "Submission Release" information in your face.

" Thank you for taking the time to submit your idea.  We've taken a look at it and we don't feel like it's something we can do something with right now because it/or something similar to it has already been done or pitched to us." A few months or a year later, they pitch your concept and produce it."

Its hard to prove in court, because it cost lots of money to fight them in court and if you do go to court, you risk your career. Other studios won't touch you and labe you as a trouble maker.

Be Careful who you pitch your story to.