Just 20 minutes before the final programme of the local reality show L-Ispjun was scheduled to be broadcast on TVM, a court revoked a decree handed down earlier during the day, effectively allowing the transmission of the programme.

A warrant of prohibitory injunction issued yesterday morning ruled that the final programme should not be broadcast, after the holders of the rights of the world-renowned programme Big Brother – Endemol International BV and Endemol Nederland BV – filed a judicial protest against the producers, claiming breach of intellectual property rights.

After a counter-protest was filed by the producers – Watermelon Media and Communications Limited – the court put off the case to 15 May, while ruling that the last programme could be broadcast.

Since the last programme was scheduled to be broadcast yesterday evening, the producers called on the court for an urgent sitting regarding the transmission of the programme in which the winner was to be announced.

The judicial protest was filed against Watermelon Media and Communications Limited, the producers of L-Ispjun, the Public Broadcasting Services Limited, the operators of the national television station TVM, and Melita Cable plc, which used to offer a 24-hour channel for viewers to see what is happening inside the house.

The court heard the lawyers representing the foreign companies argue that the main issue was the breach of intellectual property rights.

However, the principal lawyer representing the producers of the programme, Dr Adrian Delia argued that it was strange that the companies had left it to the final programme to claim a breach of such rights.

Dr Delia claimed this was done maliciously and was to tarnish the producers’ reputation. He also claimed that more harm would have been done had the last programme not been broadcast, due to the various contracts the producers had with sponsors.

Dr Noel Bartolo, on behalf of the foreign companies, accused the producers of having gained popularity by using the format as conceived by the original producers of Big Brother.

Nonetheless, the court gave the go-ahead for the transmission of the last programme, although a decision regarding the whole matter is expected later this month.

Madam Justice Anna Felice presided over the case.

Dr Noel Bartolo, Dr Jeremy Debono and Dr Mark Mifsud Cutajar represented the foreign companies, while Dr Adrian Delia appeared for the producers of the programme.