Music moguls to clash in legal fight

Music tycoon, Simon Fuller is suing celebrity pop producer, Simon Cowell, claiming his new ITV1 show, the "X Factor", copies the format of his Pop Ido

15:25 11 September 2004

Music tycoon, Simon Fuller is suing celebrity pop producer, Simon Cowell, claiming his new ITV1 show, the "X Factor", copies the format of his Pop Idol talent show.

The brains behind the Spice Girls has issued legal proceedings against Mr Cowell and the production companies, Fremantle and Syco, who are involved in the making of the new show, which was aired for the first time last week.

The proceedings reflect a long -term business rivalry between the two entrepreneurs.

Mr Fuller's production company, 19 TV, which created the original Pop Idol show, is claiming breach of copyright after identifying a number of similarities between their format and Cowell's new talent show, in which Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh also appear as judges.

Fuller is also claiming that many of X Factor's production team are in breach of contract, having previously worked on the Pop Idol show, when they allegedly signed exclusive contracts which prevent them from working on rival shows.

"19 TV will be pressing for a speedy trial to resolve matters as swiftly as is possible," said a 19 spokesman.

Mr Cowell and his team refuted the charges in a statement issued by Fremantle Media.

"We deny the allegations made in the writ and in the press. We will defend any action vigorously and we hope to resolve the matter amicably," the statement said.