Cowell and Fuller attempt to settle £100m X Factor case out of court

by Sam Matthews, Brand Republic 24-Nov-05, 14:55

LONDON - The much-hyped £100m court case between Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller over the similarities between 'X Factor' and 'Pop Idol', was postponed indefinitely today as the pop giants' lawyers aim to seek an out-of-court settlement.

Fuller, who is best known for managing the Spice Girls, owns 19 Entertainment, the company that produces the hugely successful 'Pop Idol' format. He had accused Cowell of ripping off the 'Pop Idol' format to make his own show 'X Factor', which has turned into an equally successful reality TV show.

The case at London's High Court was adjourned twice on Wednesday and once today with no date set for resumption.

Cowell, who has called the claims "utterly ridiculous", and Fuller did not appear in court.

Lawyers have yet to reach a settlement, but when they do it could call time on Cowell's stint as judge in chief of the hugely successful 'American Idol', a spin-off from 'Pop Idol', which is set to return for its fifth season in January. 'American Idol' has made a star out of Kelly Clarkson.

Whatever happens, because acid-tongued judge Cowell has become a major TV star, he is unlikely to lose out either way by demanding huge fees from News Corporation's Fox TV to star in 'American Idol' or the show being canned and his show 'X Factor' moving to replace it the US.

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