Screentime wins StripSearch format row

Eyeworks and RTL have undertaken not to produce for any country any further series of StarStrippers, the format that aired recently on Dutch television channel Yorin, following an out of court settlement with Australia's Screentime.

The decision comes after the Sydney producer behind the StripSearch format accused Dutch-based Eyeworks and RTL of infringing the copyright of its own beefcake and brawn format.

The dispute between the parties was settled in the last few days, but only after Screentime began court proceedings in the Netherlands. The fact that Eyeworks and RTL went ahead with the production of StarStripper after negotiations to buy the StripSearch format broke down last year must have severely damaged their defence.

{I am unable to say much about the terms of the settlement because a public statement had been agreed between the parties,{ Screentime principal Des Monaghan told C21 today, {but we are very happy with the outcome, which will further encourage us to aggressively protect our formats in the future.{

He warned that a couple of other legal actions {are in the pipeline{ but would not be drawn on whether the comment related to other rip-offs of StripSearch or the Sydney-based production house's biggest hit format Popstars.

{It has been anarchy out there and I hope the results are a plus for everyone,{ he continued. {It is important that producers have the right to defend their formats from infringements. Everyone would like to see it much more ordered.{

A local version of StripSearch is on air in Poland and other territories that have bought the format include the UK, Canada, Portugal, Norway, France and Germany. Monaghan said StripSearch's distributor Distraction Formats is confident that a deal will be signed for a legitimate Dutch StripSearch.