Actually, these days just about all writers, directors, company heads, etc (anyone involved in the creative or decision making process) never read fan-fiction precisely because of the all-too-real fear that they could be accused of plaigerism if they come up with a similar idea. (This is the same reason why they don't read unsolicited scripts/pitches). When you're talking several-figure lawsuits, it's very rare that you'll even find a professional writer that will touch fan-fiction with a two-inch pencil.