Seven and Nine have appeared in court today over similarities between reality cooking programs My Kitchen Rules and The Hotplate, as Seven looks to have its rival removed from air.
In proceedings at the federal court today, Seven claimed Nine's The Hotplate was identical to its My Kitchen Rules show in editing that created dramatic tension and its use of stereotype couples from states, according to reports from The Australian.
The paper is also reporting that Seven lawyers said The Hotplate was an attempt by Nine to undo its copyright over the My Kitchen Rules format.
“The very thing it is intended to do is destroy and appropriate the format which My Kitchen Rules has controlled for six years,” lawyers for Seven said.
The proceedings come as The Hotplate begins to pick up speed with TV audiences reaching its highest audience last night with a metro viewership of 944,000 according to overnight OzTam figures.
Meanwhile Seven's latest reality launch, Restaurant Revolution has dropped to 522,000 viewers last night, since its launch audience of 676,000 last week.
Yesterday a spokesperson from Seven pointed to the similarities in format as to why it was brining the matter to court.
"Channel Nine's on-air promotions for its programme had a strange sense of deja vu,” a spokesperson said.
“We then saw it. We believe Nine has appropriated Seven's My Kitchen Rules original format and related production elements, and contravened copyright. That's why we're in court."
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