Bradford Council faces a High Court battle over alleged computer programme copyright infringement.

Software specialists, Nucleus Information Systems, are suing the Council for more than £100,000 in a row over computer programmes used by the authority.

In a writ issued at London's High Court and just made publicly available, Nucleus accuses the Council of infringing its copyright in computer programmes and of breaching an agreement over software.

If the High Court agrees with the software company, the Council could face a heavy legal bill and be forced to stop using the software.

Now the Luton-based company is seeking a High Court injunction banning the Council from infringing its copyright in computer programmes called Purchase Ledger and General Utilities.

Nucleus also seeks an injunction restraining the Council from breaching an agreement made in 1989 over software.

The software company is asking the High Court to order the Council to hand over all basic materials and all removable electronic media which contain any materials which would be a breach of the injunction, if copied.

And Nucleus is asking for an order forcing the Council to erase any material on any non-removable electronic media and an order for forfeiture or destruction.

In addition to court orders the Council is also facing a claim for damages for alleged infringement of copyright and breach of contract, or an account of profits.

And if Nucleus is successful it will be seeking damages of more than £100,000, according to the writ.

Bradford Assistant Chief Executive, David Kennedy, said the authority could not comment over the issue.