The creator of Pop Idol will today accuse X Factor creators of ripping him off, as the copyright case finally comes to court.

Music-business man Simon Fuller created Idol, which featured Simon Cowell as a judge. Cowell then left and started X Factor, his own reality talent show.

Fuller's production company, 19 TV, immediately launched action against Cowell and X Factor producers FremantleMedia. The case is said to be worth £100 million in damages.

In addition to breach of copyright, the prosecution claim that several Idol production staff who jumped ship to X Factor were in breach of their contracts. Fuller's side says they had agreed not to work for rival shows.