I think this kind of thing happens more than we think in the publishing world, where ideas are (usually) built upon, if not exactly borrowed outright. Quite a lot of people let these things lie. However in this case it seems to be the perpetrator and not the victim who went on the attack first and it appears that Seinfeld was hoping to get his kick in first by using the media and his position to his advantage. I pity poor Lapine and hope she fights a good fight!

Jessica and her crooked harpercollins editors, and her terribly shady agent, were in cohoots -- they are DUMB WOMEN, though and thought simply "recipes are not able to covered by copyright law." BUT the idiots go and copy all of the prose in chapter after chapter! That is in addition to the word for word recipe copying, that some misinformed people THINK is the crux of the issue. True, it is HUMILIATING to be caught stealing recipes -- but not covered by law. BUT IT IS COVERED BY LAW TO COPY PROSE!

If you want a really good bellylaugh, go to Oprah.com and check out Jessica Seinfeld's blog. She gives advice to everyday moms and it is HILARIOUS. Who is writing this RAG? How are Oprah's people approving this garbage? The attention-seeking, talentless New York socialite -- who is out sticking her face in front of the paparazzi five nights a week for NO REASON --- says she uses a babysitting co-op with her sisters so she can go shopping for holiday presents! SHE IS A BILLIONAIRE WHO IS OUT SUCKING UP ATTENTION AT EVERY PRESS EVENT IN TOWN. SHe does pilates all day long, and is at society events at night. SHE IS SO PHONEY. HER HOUSE cost 32 million dollars 7 years ago (now maybe it would be 50 million) and that is her WEEKEND HOUSE. She does a babysitting co-op so she can shop and get a break from her kids?! Whata fraud. She has five nannies for babysitting! There is NO CO-OP! More SeinFRAUD lies. Why is Oprah so duped by Jessica Seinfeld?

Obviously the Jessica Seinfeld book was an ego gratifying ghost-written job that either was a rip off on purpose or it was carelessness by the publishing company that hired the ghost writer who was a plagarist. If it was Jessica Seinfeld herself, then she is dishonest and has a lot of audacity. And seeing how she's conducted herself over the years with her gold-digging activities, I think she's definitely capable of this sort of audacity. Either way, the original author should get duly compensated. Jerry better open his wallet and then tell his wife to stop writing fake cookbooks. She should write a book on how to hunt down and marry rich men instead. That would be more believable coming from her.

Jessica Seinfeld = James Frey in a dress!
This is getting juicy. I had no idea what a nasty little man Jerry Seinfeld was until he started talking about this author. I think he's embarrassed because he knows his wife didn't come up with these recipes!

Wow, read the lawsuit on THE Smoking Gun website. It's so amazing to see all of the stuff that Jessica Seinfeld copied and changed very little from the real book by Missy Lapine. IT IS SHOCKING!!! Jessica Seinfeld is SO BUSTED! Jerry is going to have to pay out the whazoo for this one! Good for Missy!

The issue isn't connections or whether or not Missy's idea of hiding veggies in desserts is orginal. Fried chicken isn't an original dish and EVERYONE knows that flour or cornflakes is a main ingredient, yet there are countless different ways people can alter the recipe or cooking method to make it "their" recipe. Why do you think that KFC has kept their "original recipe" a secret for all these years? She could've pureed vegtables into entirely different dishes instead of IDENTICAL ones. It's possible that when Jessica was shopping her book idea to Harper Collins she may of obtained ideas for her own cookbook since she may of felt that Missy's book wouldn't be published. You can't discount all the similarities between the two books Case closed.

Yes, it isn't fair that mostlikely Jessica Seinfeld got published because of her connections. Doesn't this happen everyday? I do also believe that we live in a sue happy world. I was at a conference (over two years ago) where a nutitrionist talked about pureeing spinach and putting it into brownies; then she went on to talk about using your imagination with other veggies like califlour, carrots, broccoli and putting them into foods. Later I was talking to friends and one said that she purees veggies and puts them into her pasta sauce because she doesn't like to eat them. So Ms. Lapine is not the inventor of pureeing veggies and putting them into foods. How many cookbooks have the same recipes? I could be wrong, it happens more then I'd like to admit, but this is for the courts to decide. And Ms. Seinfeld is going to have to back herself up and show how she came up with the ideas. I just don't understand the "witch hunt" because she has connections. I wish that I had connections that she has.

So katie, if you have Jessica's book and then later browsed Missy's book, you should've noticed the other "coincidences" as well: both call for sweet potatoes concealed in grilled cheese sandwiches, spinach concealed in brownies and both have a peanut butter and jelly muffin recipe that calls for the uncanny similar "orange puree". And sadly, as one poster mentioned early Seinfeld's book was published by Harper Collins which is the SAME publisher who rejected Missy's book. IMO I prefer Missy's book because it's a simple and to the point cookbook that offers straightfoward recipes. Jessica's has too many unnessesary side stories. GO MISSY!!!

you know what your not reading is that seinfelds publishers were the first to recieve missy's book then decided they didnt want o publish it (but they published seinfelds book). Its not about money its about integrity, missy deserves the credit! her book was published first i mean isnt a little odd that the same publisher who had missy's book first and didnt want to publish it, decides later after missys book was already out to publish seinfelds book with the same cover work! Seinfeld is a thief and isnt original
I hope missy wins! jerry is a total loser for dissing missy on TV!
Good Luck Missy!!!!!
PS she is not a 3 name person its hyphen she kept her maiden name and added her married name so jerry is an idiot! missy chase-lapine so according to jerry all women who choose to keep their maiden name and add their married name are killers what a jerk!

11:18 The Anon w/always something nice to say. See you're having a nice morning. B!tch.

Katie; did look over the two cookbooks? My guess is most likely you didn't. Shut the F up b/c obviously you have no clue of what you are talking about.

I am not surprised.I only care how to date a rich person or meet my favorite celebrities.
My best friend dated a wealthy match on a celebrities and millionaire dating site called "Searching M illionaire. com". It's said Charlie Sheen dated an attractive girl there last May.

i think she has every right to sue jerry said some horrible things about her and she wasn't the one saying that jessica copied her book the media was! she was trying to lay low and say nothing about the similarities and Jerry just attacked her! what happened to him? fame I guess and a horrible wench for a wife

If it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck - its a duck. There is no doubt Jessica Seinfeld plagiarized Lapine's book. Sure cookbooks have similar recipes - but NOT identical ones. I saw Jerry Seinfeld on Letterman and he obviously used is money and power to try to shut Lapine up. He and his wife have no shame. What do you expect of a woman who left her husband (right after the HONEYMOON) for Jerry Seinfeld. (She was married not engaged when she met Seinfeld). She has no conscience, so stealing was not a problem for her.