ABC-CBS Legal Battle Over Reality TV show 'Glass House' Heats Up: Judge Refuses ABC Request

The legal battle between networks ABC and CBS about the reality TV show "Glass House" by ABC, heated up on Friday.

A federal judge refused ABC's request to halt production of "Glass House" until after the show premieres on June 18, Variety reports.

ABC had asked the judge to consider a "premilimnary injuction on a normal briefing schedule," meaning that the judge's decision would be made until July 9, after the show aired.

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Judge Gary Allen ordered ABC's legal team to file an official response to CBS' request for a temporary restraining order by 5 p.m. on Monday.

It is likely that Judge Allen will make a decision as early as next week, according to Variety.

CBS claims that "Glass House" is a "Big Brother" rip-off. The network also claims that ABC employed 19 former "Big Brother" employees for its new show "Glass House."

"The public announcements from ABC and their producers own testimony about 'Glass House' clearly point to a program that will replicate virtually every element of 'Big Brother," CBS said in a statement to Variety.

"And, the deposition testimony included in a our court filing today further demonstrates the brazen lengths that former 'Big Brother' producers have gone to use confidential material, obtained while under our employment, to develop this new show," the network added.

Both reality TV shows are about a group of strangers living together in a house with cameras recording them at all times. In "Big Brother" the houseguests vote each other out while on "Glass House," viewers will help eliminate contestants and control what they do.

CBS first filed the lawsuit on May 10.