LONDON — Bob Geldof and his production company are suing the makers of a TV show that stranded B-list celebrities in the Australian bush, claiming they stole the idea from his "Survivor" program.
Geldof and Castaway Productions Ltd., which owns the worldwide rights to "Survivor," began legal proceedings Thursday in the High Court against Granada and London Weekend Television, makers of "I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here!"
Geldof, the former lead singer of the Boomtown Rats and organizer of '80s famine relief fund-raiser "Live Aid," is seeking damages and an injunction for infringement of a copyright.
"Survivor," which strands 16 ordinary people in a remote location where they compete for a monetary prize, has been sold in more than a dozen countries, including the United States, where a fifth edition, "Survivor: Thailand," is airing on CBS.
"I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!" stranded eight publicity-hungry personalities in the Australian jungle, where they survived on rice and water, contended with spiders and snakes, and for the viewing public to vote them off, one by one.
There was no prize, and most of the money raised from the telephone voting lines was donated to charity — some 100,000 pounds ($150,000).
Granada denied any infringement of copyright and said it was "regrettable" that Castaway had launched the lawsuit.
"We made clear to . . . Castaway that we don't consider (that) our program in any way infringes their rights in 'Survivor,' " a spokesman said on condition of anonymity. "We have received strong legal advice supporting that position and will, if necessary, vigorously defend any proceedings."
Castaway Productions said "contrary to widespread belief," the celebrity version, broadcast in Britain in September, wasn't made with its consent.
" 'Survivor' took many years to develop, a process costing hundreds of thousands of pounds. Castaway regards the protection of its intellectual property rights most seriously," the statement said.
"Castaway Television Productions Ltd. would like it to be clear that this claim in no way jeopardizes the charity element of the program."