Simon Cowell and Simon Fuller Seek Agreement  11/25/05

Simon Cowell is close to reaching an out-of-court settlement with fellow British music mogul Simon Fuller in their dispute over the former's TV talent show The X Factor.

Former Spice Girls manager Fuller has accused Cowell of copying the format of hit shows Pop Idol and American Idol. Fuller's company 19 TV created the Pop Idol blue-print.

The case was postponed twice at the High Court in London yesterday (23NOV05) and, following a further postponement today (24NOV05), has still not been given a new commencement date as lawyers seek to reach an agreement.

In Fuller's lawsuit against Cowell, 19 TV also cites breach of contact, alleging producers who worked on Pop Idol are now working on The X Factor despite signing binding contracts which prevented them from working for rival program.

19 TV names FremantleMedia, Cowell and his companies Simco and Syco in the court papers.