Children's charity sues over 'X Factor' girl group Rhythmix

A music charity that works with vulnerable children has warned that it will be forced to cut projects, unless the makers of The X Factor settle a legal battle over one of the show's groups.

Rhythmix is suing Simon Cowell after his Simco company lodged a trademark application to use the same name for a girl band competing in this year's series.

The Brighton-based charity, which works with youth offending teams to create music programmes for vulnerable children and those with learning difficulties, said The X Factor namesake was causing confusion and disrupting sessions. Mark Davyd, the charity's director, said Simco was "fully aware" that the charity, which has been established for 12 years, was already using the name, yet had pursued the trademark "without considering any moral implication or negative impact on the charity".

Simco's lawyers said they needed further time to consider the issue – a "delaying" tactic, Mr Davyd said, designed to allow Cowell's company to pursue a European-registered trademark.

The charity says it must now spend at least €4,500 to lodge legal objections.

"It is a financially and morally unjustifiable cost," Mr Davyd said. "That is money that would have to come out of our music sessions for children in local authority care."