Dutch production company Talpa Media is involved in a legal dispute with Star China, a media company, over the production of the next season of 'The Voice of China.' 

Talpa Media, the creator of worldwide hits 'Fear Factor,' 'Big Brother,' and 'Deal or No Deal,' said that Star China no longer has the legal right to produce The Voice, South China Morning Post reported. 

Like Us on Facebook

The agreement between the two parties reportedly expired on January 8 this year, but Star China has continued to hold auditions that it started in November 2015 and even announced a new set of judges recently. The singing content is due to air in July this year. 

The break-up is apparently ugly

Star China said on Thursday that Talpa Media had "broken the conventions" for renewing the contract without consulting them, and told the former to pay hundreds of millions for copyright. 

The Chinese media company said that it still has the right to use the Chinese name of The Voice and will produce the show with their own production and development team. 

On the other hand, Talpa Media is determined to produce the show in China. The company announced on Thursday that they inked a partnership with Zhejiang Tangde, another media company, in Beijing. 

"As part of the multi-year agreement Zhejiang Tangde also bought the licensing rights for the production and broadcast of the fifth to the eighth season of 'The Voice of China,'" Talpa Media said. 

Zheljiang Tangde will also add another $60 million for 'The Voice' and another $50 million to develop Talpa formats for the local market. 

"We will be side by side with Zhejiang Tangde to work on the portfolio of Talpa and we look forward to making The Voice even bigger and more successful than it already is," said Talpa Holding CEO Pim Schmitz. 

Should we expect The Voice Season 5 this year or a messy legal battle? 

TagsThe Voice of China, The Voice legal battle, Talpa Media, Star China, Zhejiang Tangde