Simon Fuller Sues FOX Over X Factor Fees!

Rhu Rho! Simon Fuller isn’t happy! He’s SUING FOX claiming he should be paid a high fee for the upcoming Simon Cowell competion reality show, X Factor!

Read more at THR

According to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Fuller negotiated a hefty executive producer fee and credit on X-Factor as part of a settlement of a 2004 copyright infringement lawsuit against Cowell when X-Factor launched in the UK. Fox, which airs Idol and will debut X-Factor in September, and Fremantle North America, which produces both shows, are now refusing to honor that deal, according to the suit.

“Fox and Fremantle made hundreds of millions of dollars thanks to the creative efforts of Fuller, ” the suit states. “Now, when it is time to finally perform on these unequivocal promises, Fox and Fremantle refuse to provide Fuller his executive producer credit for Defendants’ new television show, The X Factor, and refuse to pay Fuller and executive producer fee ‘commesurate with his duties and stature in the entertainment industry.’ Defendants refusal to honor their promises made to Fuller is particularly malicious given that but for Fuller’s agreement, the X Factor show would not be able to broadcast in the United States at all.”

“Fox, and ultimately its parent company, News Corporation, have demonstrated a callous disregard for Fuller’s rights which, given recent developments, reflects a corporate culture–if not a pattern and practice–of wrongful behavior, ” the complaint states.

This bad blood traces all the way back to 2004, when Fuller sued Simon Cowell claiming the Idol judge ripped off his show.  The parties settled in 2005, giving Fuller a producing credit on X Factor.  Cowell, in turn, agreed not to launch X Factor in America while under contract to Idol.

Fuller seemed satisfied with the arrangement. Until now.

Pull out your lawn chairs and grab your popcorn folks!  This is gonna get good.

ETA: Statements from FOX and Fuller: VIA The Wrap

FOX: “Mr. Fuller has not been hired, nor performed any duties, on the U.S. version of ‘The X Factor.’ His suit seeks payment and credit as an executive producer despite his neither having been approved by the required parties, nor hired, as such. We believe this lawsuit is without merit and we expect to prevail.”

Rep for Fuller said in a statement that Fuller “has prudently attempted to settle this matter privately but the other parties have refused to honor the original contract, leaving him no other choice but to pursue legal action.”

About mj santilli 35161 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!