The Nine Network could be forced to pull its new cooking show The Hotplate if a federal court decision goes against the network at the end of this week.
The Seven Network today sought an injunction in the Federal Court in a bid to prevent its rival from airing its new show.
Seven alleged Endomol, the production company behind the new Nine program, had obtained a copy of the My Kitchen Rules "production bible" and that The Hotplate infringed the copyright of its own successful cooking show.
Justice John Nicholas allowed this week's episodes of the new show to air, but will make a decision on the broadcast of the rest of the series by the end of the week.
The Hotplate, which premiered last week, has easily beaten Seven's new cooking show Restaurant Revolution in the ratings.