erinp5 |
07-09-2013 08:59 PM |
Brian Belo vs ITV court date set.
The row over who created ITV2 show The Only Way is Essex is a step closer to going to court, with a date set for October and both parties gearing up to appear.
The case has been scheduled to go to trial at the High Court at some point durnig a five-day window from 7 October.
If the case goes to trial, it will be after more than a year since the claim against
The dispute over the reality format is between ITV and Lime Pictures on one side and former Big Brother contestant Brian Belo, Sassy Films and Massive TV on the other.
The trio filed a claim for copyright infringement and breach of confidence at the High Court in March last year. They allege that they took the idea to ITV before it was commissioned from Lime. ITV and Lime have lodged a robust defence against the claim.
In the background of the formal proceedings, an offer to settle out of court is understood to have been made and rejected by Belo, Sassy and Massive.
ITV and Lime are also understood to have requested that the claimants find insurance to cover the costs of the case, in the event they lose. Belo and his co-claimers have responded by securing insurance.
Since then, the court has ordered both sides to disclose documents relating to the case. It is understood that ITV and Lime have requested partial disclosure, rather than full. The court is yet to decide which route to go down
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