Unconfirmed sources have indicated that legal counsel for The Spoof are preparing to file a lawsuit against the BBC under European law for unfair competition and abuse of a dominant market position.
Evidence is being compiled to show that the BBC publishes more and more funny stories and is thus violating a tacit agreement between serious and satirical newscasters.
The BBC has become more dependent on spoof headlines and jokes amid a sharp downturn in demand for serious news from recession-weary consumers.
In a draft statement to be published later this week The Spoof is insisting that it is not seeking a monopoly of satirical news. However the BBC's dominant position and its growing tendency to feature humoristic and anecdotal headlines is confusing to the consumer. It has been suggested that some consumers have come to the conclusion that the BBC and The Spoof are one and the same corporation. Both the BBC and The Spoof have vehemently denied such a possibility.
In private The Spoof sources have not excluded an amiable out-of-court arrangement in which the BBC would suspend the publication of satirical news and settle all claims for damages with a symbolical payment of 1 euro. The unofficial reaction of a BBC spokesman was: "How much is 1 euro in real money?"
