Spice-y dilemma for Australia’s Seven Network

In early April, the New South Wales Supreme Court heard the matter of Seven Network (Operations) Ltd v Melanie Brown [2013] NSWSC 372 involving a contractual dispute between former Spice Girl Mel B (aka Scary Spice) and two of Australia's rival free to air television networks.

The "exclusive television services" of Mel B were subject to an agreement between the artist, her management company (controlled by her husband) and the Seven Network. The agreement included a clear restraint of trade clause which identified that Mel B's television services in Australia would be exclusive to the Seven Network. The agreement also provided the Seven Network with the option to extend the agreement for a further twelve month period.