My Kitchen Rules makers sue rival network over 'copycat' claims

The Hotplate has been compared to My Kitchen Rules by viewers and now in a legal challenge

The heat is rising over Australia's new cooking show The Hotplate, with the Seven Network taking its rival to court over copycat claims.

Seven says Channel Nine's new show is a rip-off of its hugely successful series My Kitchen Rules, and has lodged papers in the Federal Court demanding it be taken off air, the Herald Sun reports.

A judge will decide on Tuesday if Seven has grounds to claim Nine and production company Endemol infringed its copyright.

Seven will claim The Hotplate used almost identical casting, costuming, sets, music, promotion and judging processes to MKR.

Nine denies the claims.

"[The Hotplate] is an original format, developed by Nine," Nine spokeswoman Victoria Buchan told AAP.

"We will be vigorously defending the case. We don't have anything else to say given the matter's before the court."

The Hotplate features six established local restaurants competing for $100,000. In MKR, teams compete in an ordinary home and later a studio for a $100,000 prize.

Seven's view echoes claims made by fans when the show kicked off last week. Many tweeted how similar The Hotplate was to Seven's MKR, calling the inclusion of two judges as "unoriginal".

My Kitchen Rules makers claim The Hotplate has copied their format

Australia's Network Seven claims Channel Nine's new show The Hotplate is a replica of My Kitchen Rules.

Seven launched its own new cooking series, Restaurant Revolution, on the same night and in the same timeslot as Nine launched The Hotplate.

The Hotplate is winning out in the ratings so far.

Seven has been contacted for comment.

- AAP